Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Greenland

Active labour market measures. Participation of the social partners. The Committee notes the information contained in the report provided by the Government of Denmark received in February 2013, including specific observations from the Teachers’ Union in Greenland (IMAK), and the Health Workers’ Union in Greenland (PPK). The Government indicates that a significant obstacle to full and productive employment is its geography and deficient infrastructure, making it extremely difficult and costly for a worker to commute. In this regard, the Government reports that Home Rule No. 24 of 25 August 2008 on mobility conducive benefits was designed to cover the expenses incurred by workers for relocation and moving household effects when moving for a permanent position. It further refers to a transition to a more modern economy, causing large government-owned companies to downsize as they become more efficient, eliminating 761 jobs in the past seven years. The number of unskilled labour one-man businesses declined from 3,092 to 2,809 during the period of 2007–09. The Government reports that fishermen were particularly vulnerable in this economic transition, given that 232 of the 283 one-man businesses that were closed down during that period were fishermen. As part of the transition, the Government indicates great future job potential in the extracting industry, identifying the Nalunaq, Citronen Fjord, Isua Jern, Kringlerne, Fiskenaesset and Marmorlik mineral projects for 2013–18. The Government reports that the Nalunaq mine is the only mine in operation, that the Isua Jern mine has a licence and financing pending, and the rest are at different stages in the exploration phase. The Committee notes the concerns of IMAK and PPK regarding the extent to which Greenlandic labour is expected to be used in these projects to help achieve full employment. The Government indicates that more jobs will be created than can be filled by Greenlandic workers. The Committee invites the Government to include in its next report information on the impact of the mining projects in the generation of productive and lasting employment in Greenland. Please also include information on the manner in which an active employment policy has been formulated and adopted, in consultation with the social partners and representatives of other communities concerned, with a view to achieving full and productive employment (Articles 1, 2, and 3 of the Convention).

Employment trends. Labour market information. In reply to previous comments, the Government reports that implementation has stopped with respect to the Suliaq labour market database because of its complexity. The Committee notes the concerns of IMAK and PPK regarding the lack of information on labour market indicators. The Government indicates that Statistics Greenland will update the unemployment figures, including data on national unemployment and unemployment in towns and settlements, and quarterly calculations of the distribution of skilled unemployed workers across industries. It also indicates that statistics that will be released, include yearly statements of unemployment and the distribution of unemployed persons across age, gender, etc. The Committee notes that a negative trend in unemployment was measured starting in 2009. There was an increase of 383 unemployed people from 2010–11, bringing the total to 2,791 unemployed in 2011. The Government also reports on a sharp increase in the unemployment numbers from 2010–12. The number of unemployed people in settlements remained steady at 1,000 people in 2012. The Committee recalls that improved labour statistics can be of help to the Government in securing the planning and implementation of appropriate employment policy measures. The Committee invites the Government to indicate in its next report the progress made to obtain accurate labour market data and how it is being used to ensure that employment policy decisions are based on an adequate knowledge of the situation, level and trends of employment (Article 2 of the Convention).

Skills development. The Government refers to education, skills development and retraining as being crucial in order to ensure that Greenlandic workers obtain the new jobs created by its economic transition. Some 72 per cent of the people in the workforce are unskilled and 90 per cent of the unemployed population are uneducated. Accordingly, the Government indicates that labour market measures will focus on helping to develop unskilled workers. The Committee notes the Government’s plan of action for unemployed persons for 2012–13. The Government enumerates a series of programmes to be implemented, including a national system to monitor the development of unemployed workers and to determine the measures required to get them back in employment. Further measures include a national jobs portal, counselling and guidance, skills development programmes, resources for occupational and introductory programmes, and additional funding towards courses in the extracting industry designed to minimize the risk of unemployment for workers displaced by the transitioning economy. The Government indicates that it uses prior learning assessments to identify the valuable competencies of workers and to direct their future educational choices towards industries of growth. It also refers to training and education programmes to help working-age people with limitations on their work ability to stay in or return to the labour market. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report an evaluation of the impact of the measures taken in the area of education and training and on their relation to the obtainment of productive employment for the beneficiaries of these measures.