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

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Poland (Ratification: 1979)

Implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2013 containing detailed information in connection with its 2009 direct request. The Government indicates that the 2004 Act on employment promotion and labour market institutions, the main document enabling the implementation of the Convention, was amended several times. Two amendments, in 2009 and 2010, are relevant to vocational guidance. The first amendment facilitates the improvement of vocational qualifications by the unemployed, jobseekers and employees aged 45 years and older. Such persons, whose situation in the labour market is relatively difficult, may use free training services offered by labour offices on preferential terms. The second amendment improved the chances of employment by directing unemployed individuals to a number of courses; introduced the possibility to choose the best financial benefit (scholarship or allowance); increased the minimum value of the training scholarship; and enabled the unemployed to claim a refund of the transportation costs in connection to examinations. Various measures aimed at promoting and improving the system of vocational guidance and information services were implemented between 2008 and 2013, including training, internships and vocational preparation of adults and training for career counsellors (the number of counsellors has increased by 100 per cent compared to 2007). The Committee notes the statistical data submitted by the Government and notes with interest that the number of unemployed using individual vocational guidance services between 2008 and 2012 has been steadily increasing. This trend can also be observed among persons using individual and group vocational information services. The Government draws attention to the fact that following the amendment of the Act on the education system in August 2011, essential changes have been implemented to the system of vocational training in order to reinforce its relevance with the economy and labour market. The Committee notes that these changes were implemented in September 2012 and include modifications of the classification of occupations covered by vocational training, a new curriculum for vocational training, a new approach to examinations and a uniform system of certification of vocational qualification. Data gathered in the Educational Information System of the Ministry of National Education shows that the interest in technical, secondary and vocational schools has been growing in the last few years. The Committee observes that at present, over 50 per cent of lower secondary school graduates decide to continue their education at schools that offer vocational training. The Committee invites the Government to include in its next report information on the results of the measures taken to develop comprehensive and coordinated policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training closely linked with employment and public employment services (Article 1(1)–(2) of the Convention). The Committee also invites the Government to continue to provide information on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice, including statistics on the number of persons that participate in vocational guidance and vocational training programmes.