Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Central African Republic (Ratification: 1964)

Articles 3–5 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. In its previous comments, the Committee invited the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure the effective operation of the network of agencies of the Central African Agency for Employment and Vocational Training (ACFPE). The Government indicates in its report that the ACFPE has four regional agencies outside the capital. The Committee notes that the Government has been indicating since 2011 that the ACFPE is reviewing its strategy following the adoption of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. In this context, the ACFPE is developing a partnership for the establishment and promotion of a network of agencies to adapt better to the needs of users, reinforce the provision of services to enterprises and jobseekers, and establish an employment market information system. In the context of this partnership, the Government indicates that, during the course of 2015, a total of 4,100 jobseekers were registered with the ACFPE and 3,136 fixed-term contracts and 2,932 contracts for an indefinite period were concluded and validated by the ACFPE during the last half of 2015. The Government adds that certain jobseekers were trained in jobseeking techniques, while others participated in a programme of labour-intensive works. The Committee also notes that the Standing National Labour Council is still not operational. The Government adds that prefectoral councils have not yet been established due to the lack of resources. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the operation and activities of the Central African Agency for Employment and Vocational Training. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on any developments relating to the operation of the Standing National Labour Council with a view to ensuring the collaboration of the representatives of employers and workers in the organization of the public employment service. The Committee also requests the Government to continue providing updated information on the number of public employment offices established and their location, the number of applications for employment received, vacancies notified and persons placed in employment by employment offices.

Articles 6–8. Functions of the public employment service. The Government once again indicates that specialization by occupation and industry is not yet operational. However, since 2009, the ACFPE has been recruiting, through vocational integration enterprise contracts, young persons with different skills profiles to train them as employment advisers. With regard to the application of Article 8 of the Convention, the Government indicates that no specific measures have been taken with respect to young persons. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to facilitate, within the various employment offices, specialization by occupation or industry. It also requests the Government to provide detailed information on the measures adopted or envisaged in respect of vulnerable categories of workers, such as workers with disabilities, and young persons.

Article 11. Effective cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies. The Government reiterates that the new Labour Code has introduced a liberalization of private employment agencies. However, the Committee once again notes that the implementing text is still under preparation. Accordingly, these offices are still not authorized to operate. The Government adds that the implementing text will be issued in the near future. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any developments in relation to the regulation of private employment agencies, and particularly to ensure their cooperation with the public employment service. It also requests the Government to provide copies of any legislative texts adopted in this respect.