Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Senegal (Ratification: 1966)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy and poverty reduction. In reply to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest that the National Employment Policy (PNE) was technically validated in 2015. The Government indicates that the PNE is based on six main strategies: creating jobs on a massive scale through the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE), through the major projects of the Head of State and in the traditional economic systems; developing specific public programmes for the creation of decent jobs; developing employment programmes at the local level and improving and developing the matching of training and employment; improving the organization of the labour market and of social dialogue; and strengthening the capacities of the Ministry of Employment. The Committee recalls that the PNE was taken into account in the initial phase (2014–18) of the PSE, which is Senegal’s economic and social policy paper for 2014–35. The Government indicates that several legislative texts, projects and structures have been developed for the implementation of the PSE. In this context, the Committee notes that Act No. 97 17 was adopted on 1 December 1997 issuing the Labour Code and its implementing texts that cover, in particular, internships, apprenticeships, the interoccupational guaranteed minimum wage (SMIG) and non-discrimination. The Government indicates that economic growth has increased in recent years, although this growth is not sufficiently rich in job creation. It adds that, since 2014, the Senegalese labour market has recorded several trends related to the implementation of these strategies. The Committee notes that in 2017, the employment rate was 39.3 per cent for men and 23.7 per cent for women, according to the National Statistics and Demographics Agency (ANSD). In addition, the Government indicates that labour statistics show an annual average job creation of 50,000 jobs in the Senegalese private sector, taking into account the direct impact of government action in terms of funding youth projects and employment-intensive activities for the construction of infrastructure. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the impact and implementation of each of the PNE strategies, and particularly on large-scale job creation and on the youth projects and employment-intensive activities funded through the Policy. The Committee also requests the Government to provide a copy of the PNE.

Specific categories of workers particularly likely to be affected by a decent work deficit. The Government indicates that there are many active labour market programmes based on support mechanisms for youth and women’s entrepreneurship, which include people with specific needs, such as persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that the Operational Action Plan for Youth Employment (PAOJ) was validated in March 2018. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing updated information on any active employment measures targeting specific categories of workers exposed to decent work deficits, such as young persons, women, persons with disabilities, unqualified or low-skilled workers, and migrant workers, and on their effects on the creation of productive and sustainable job opportunities. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the PAOJ.

Educational and training programmes. The Committee notes that the National Policy for Educational and Vocational Guidance was technically validated in 2018. The Government indicates that higher education has undergone a major reform, as has vocational and technical training, to respond more closely to the needs of the labour market. It adds that the Vocational and Technical Training Financing Fund and the Senegalese Programme for Youth Entrepreneurship are the operational arms of the departments responsible for training and higher education. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the various educational and training activities and on their results in terms of the strengthening and coordination of measures relating to education and vocational training, including data disaggregated by age and sex, and on the number of men and women who have benefited from these programmes.

Article 2. Collection and use of employment data. The Government indicates that employment data are available through the Employment Information System (SIE), the project to support the promotion of employment for young persons and women (PAPEJF), and the statistics and studies on the impact of the PSE. It adds that information is also available in the reports produced by the ANSD and the Directorate of Labour and Education Statistics (DSTE). The Committee notes that national employment surveys in Senegal (ENES) have been regularly conducted each quarter since 2015. Taking into account that data collection allows the results of employment policies to be reviewed and evaluated, and also progress monitored towards full, productive and freely chosen employment, the Committee requests the Government to provide the available employment data and a copy of the reports produced by the ANSD and the DSTE. It reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on employment trends, and particularly on unemployment and underemployment trends.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the design and formulation of policies. The Government indicates that the experience and views of the social partners are constantly taken into account, particularly in the context of the design and implementation of employment policy. It adds that, in the context of the implementation of the new PNE, the social partners are participating actively in the Intersectoral National Technical Committee on Employment and Training (CTNIEFP), the PNE Follow-up Committee and the Inter-ministerial Employment Council. The Committee requests the Government to include in its next report detailed and precise information on the manner in which consultations with the social partners have contributed to the implementation of the PNE and how their experience and views were fully taken into account in the formulation of the policy. It also requests the Government to indicate whether consultations were held with representatives of rural workers, workers in the informal economy and other categories of workers affected by the measures taken.

ILO technical assistance. The Government indicates that collaboration with the ILO is very fruitful in the area of employment. It adds that various initiatives have been developed in this regard, such as the employment policy reform involving the creation of the National Youth Employment Promotion Agency (ANPEJ) and the development and validation of the second phase of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) during 2018. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on initiatives that have benefited from ILO cooperation and reiterates its request to the Government to indicate their impact on employment.