Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Spain (Ratification: 1960)

Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. Skills and training of employment service staff. In its observation of 2009 the Committee noted the communication from the Independent Federation of Civil Servants (CSI‑F), which expressed concern at the lack of skills among staff responsible for occupational guidance in the Autonomous Community of Galicia. The CSI-F referred to the provisions of Article 9 of the Convention, and stated that the Executive of Galicia, through the Labour Council, had hired staff who had no specific qualifications for guidance work. This, in the CSI-F’s view, had serious consequences, such as the de-professionalization of the public service in Galicia, poor quality in the supply of these services to the public, and the demotivation of those who do have proper qualifications. In addition, the Committee noted the comments by the Trade Union Confederation of Workers’ Commissions (CC.OO.) of Andalucía, appended to the Government’s report which was received in September 2009. This organization alleges failure to implement the agreements signed by the Government of Andalucía concerning the increase in staff for the offices of the Andalucían Employment Service and the lack of any provision to fill vacant posts, to the detriment of delivery and quality of the services. In the opinion of the CC.OO. of Andalucía, poor human resources management and the lack of professionalism are causing great dissatisfaction among the users of employment offices because the quality of the public service is declining. In August 2010 the Government sent a new report including information from the Labour Council of the Executive of Galicia. According to the Executive of Galicia, a proposal was made in 2009 to establish an occupational category of “occupational guidance for placement in employment”, which is being considered by the Autonomous Community. Furthermore, a copy was sent of the training programme given to vocational advisers which was combined with two months of practical experience in employment offices. The Government refers in its report to Royal Decree No. 10/2010 of 16 June 2010 concerning urgent measures for the reform of the employment market and to the Special Plan of April 2008 concerning guidance, occupational training and job placement measures. The Government adds that, as part of the Special Plan, the network of employment offices has been strengthened with the recruitment of 1,500 vocational advisers and their recruitment has been extended in order to deal with the sharp increase in the number of jobseekers and provide a more effective response. The Committee notes the conclusion of agreements concerning the training of persons who will perform guidance, advice and evaluation duties in relation to the accreditation of occupational skills, and also notes the implementation of activities designed to inform potential candidates about features of the procedure for the recognition of experience. The Committee refers to its observation on the application of Convention No. 122 and, in view of the current circumstances of the employment market in Spain, it requests the Government to report on the measures adopted to ensure the functioning of employment offices sufficient in number to meet the needs of employers and workers throughout the country. Furthermore, the Committee requests the Government to supply further information on the manner in which it is ensured that the staff of the employment service in the Autonomous Communities of Andalucía and Galicia have the requisite skills to perform the duties required by the Convention and have received the appropriate training in this respect. The Committee recalls that the part of the report form referring to Article 9 of the Convention also requires information to be supplied on the arrangements made for subsequent training of employment service staff, so as to enable an evaluation of the application of the aforementioned provision in each of the Autonomous Communities.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2012.]