Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Armenia (Ratification: 1994)

The Committee notes the observations of the Republican Union of Employers of Armenia (REUA) and the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia (CTUA), received together with the Government’s report. The Government is requested to provide its comments in this respect.

Article 1 of the Convention. Employment trends and implementation of an active employment policy. The Government reports that, to reduce the risk of corruption, evaluate the level of satisfaction of beneficiaries and improve the effective implementation of programmes carried out under the 2013–2018 Employment Strategy, in 2016, the Government evaluated 14 programmes in different regions, soliciting the views of employers. In addition to shifting the exchange of information and the provision of assistance to electronic means, the evaluation also led to increased individualization of services to jobseekers. The Government reports that, at the end of 2016, there were 95,800 registered jobseekers (62,200 women and 22,300 young persons), out of which 85,500 persons (84 per cent) were unemployed. In 2016, 9,546 persons found employment – 6,912 of whom were not registered in government employment programmes – 66 per cent of these were women and 30.9 per cent were young persons. The Committee notes the presence of regional disparities in this regard, with the highest numbers reported for Yerevan (2,391 women and 716 young persons) and the lowest in Vayots Dzor (156 women and 109 young persons). In the same year, through assistance programmes directed at the rural economy in the form of seasonal employment and paid public works, 13,006 jobseekers (13.6 per cent) participated in active labour market measures of which 3,768 (74 per cent) were women and 1,878 (36.8 per cent) were young persons. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information, including statistical data disaggregated by year, sector, sex and age, on employment trends in the country, specifically on employment, unemployment and underemployment. It also asks the Government to provide information on the impact of the active labour market measures implemented in the different regions of the country.

Groups vulnerable to decent work deficits. In its observations, the trade union maintains that the Government’s efforts to reduce unemployment and poverty, as detailed in its report, are insufficient. It calls for projects to be implemented that target women, young persons and persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government in respect of the situation of women and young persons. The Government indicates that it is conscious of the high unemployment rate for women: 66 per cent. The unemployment rate for young persons was 23.7 per cent. In this regard, the Committee notes the diverse programmes and initiatives primarily directed at young persons in urban as well as rural areas – in particular with regard to vocational guidance, which aims to raise awareness of labour market needs and improve employability. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results of the measures and programmes implemented to promote the employment of groups vulnerable to decent work deficits, including women, young persons and persons with disabilities. In regard to active labour market measures directed at young persons, the Government is requested to provide information on the impact of the measures taken in the area of vocational education and training and on their relation to improving the employability of young persons.

Article 2. Implementation of active labour market measures. In response to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates that, while obstacles remain in terms of improving cooperation between private employment agencies and the Armenian State Employment Agency, financial payments are made to private employment agencies that recruit persons who are difficult to place in the labour market. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on measures taken or envisaged to strengthen cooperation between the public employment services and private employment agencies. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the number of persons so recruited, the criteria used to identify persons who are difficult to place in the labour market, and the placement results obtained by private employment agencies.

Undeclared work. In response to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government reports that 2,241 undeclared workers were detected in 2017. The Government refers to the Tax Code of the Republic of Armenia, which entered into force on 1 January 2018, and provides for the electronic registration of all employees before they commence their employment. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken or envisaged to reduce the number of undeclared workers and facilitate their integration into the formal economy.

Article 3. Consultation of the social partners. The Government indicates that, on the basis of the new collective contract, the Government and the social partners typically decide on and implement active labour market measures in the Republican Tripartite Committee, which meets at least on a quarterly basis. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the activities of the Republican Tripartite Committee and other tripartite committees at the national and regional levels, with respect to the development and implementation of active labour market measures and programmes.