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

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

The Committee notes the observations of the Independent and Self-Governing Trade Union “Solidarność” received on 9 August 2018, as well as the Government’s reply to these observations, received on 22 October 2018.

Articles 1–4 of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training. The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report in response to its 2013 observation. The Committee notes the Government’s continued efforts to improve the quality and effectiveness of vocational guidance and training. The Government refers to a series of amendments made to the 2004 Act on employment promotion and labour market institutions (the Act), from 2013 to 2017, particularly the revision of 14 March 2014, which entered into force on 27 May 2014, introducing changes in the area of vocational guidance aimed at better adapting the services offered by labour offices to the needs of their clients, thereby improving the efficiency of Public Employment Service (PES) operations. According to the Government, vocational guidance and information services and job search assistance services, were rolled into a single vocational guidance service. A certain number of PES staff were transferred to positions as vocational counsellors and provided with training to enhance their skills, thereby increasing the number of counsellors and the availability of vocational guidance services. The Committee notes that 48,806 unemployed persons benefited from the individual and group vocational guidance provided by PES labour offices in 2017, a decline from 74,016 unemployed persons in 2013. The Government attributes this decline to the corresponding decline in the Polish unemployment rate during this period. The Committee also notes the introduction of two new forms of vocational guidance aimed at addressing the needs of PES customers due to the rapid development of information technologies: distance guidance and distance information services. In its observations, Solidarność maintains that there is no broad access to vocational counselling offered by the PES, which mainly focuses on registered unemployed persons. In its reply, the Government reports that both unemployed persons and jobseekers, with different levels of education and professional qualifications, in different stages of their professional development, have the opportunity to use the free career counselling services provided by the PES. It further indicates that district employment offices provide individual or group advice, professional information and training in the area of job search skills to registered unemployed persons, as well as support in the field of professional information to those who are not registered. In relation to vocational education, the Government reports that the 14 March 2014 revisions to the 2004 Act, expanded the assistance provided for long-term unemployed persons – young persons under the age of 30 and older workers 50 or older – to help them enter and remain in the labour market. The Committee notes that employers hiring young people are now provided support through new instruments: training vouchers and placement vouchers. Under the placement voucher system, the unemployed person is granted a six-month internship with a designated employer, who commits to employ the individual for an additional six months. The Government indicates that since 2015, internships are available not only for young persons, but also for all groups of unemployed persons in a difficult situation on the labour market. Solidarność nevertheless indicates that the Government has not developed a coherent youth policy that takes into account the special needs of young people on the labour market or that provides them with support at various stages of their professional career. In its reply, the Government reports that support for young people is provided by the Voluntary Labour Corps – units supervised by the Minister for Labour and specialized in activities for youth aged 15–25, particularly those at risk of social exclusion. The Government also reports the establishment of the National Training Fund (NTF) in 2015 to support investments in human resources. In this respect, it notes that the amount of the annual funds available from the NTF is approximately 200 million Polish zloty (PLN), which is intended to support co-financing of lifelong learning for employees and employers undertaken at the initiative of, or with the consent of, the employer. The Committee notes that, during the 2014–17 period, the PES used these funds to support training for approximately 315,000 working people. In addition, the Government refers to a series of activities in the area of lifelong learning. The Committee notes, with interest, that, in 2017, more than 80 per cent of unemployed persons secured employment after completing the internship program, the highest ratio in five years. Solidarność nonetheless maintains that the PES does not promote vocational training for adults. Noting that, in 2016, only 242 people took up adult vocational training, Solidarność attributes this to the low remuneration offered to a person undergoing adult vocational training, as well as to the heavy administrative burdens. It adds that access to measures for training to improve professional qualifications was curtailed after the NTF resources for 2018 were reduced. In its reply, the Government indicates that, in 2017, over 50,000 people took part in training, which is extremely popular among both the unemployed and jobseekers. The Government also reports that, in 2018, the amount of PLN105,608 (US$28,086,100)was allocated to the NTF and the role of the social partners in deciding on the allocation of NTF funds was strengthened, as the tripartite Labour Market Council decides on the spending priorities for 30 per cent of NTF funds. The Committee takes note of activities intended to support students in undertaking educational and career decisions carried out by the Ministry of National Education and the introduction in 2016 of classes in vocational guidance. It further notes that a Bill amending the Act – Education Law and the Act on the education system and certain other acts, which proposes further changes to the vocational education system, is being reviewed at the interdepartmental level and the social partners are being consulted. It is expected to be finalized in September 2019. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed information, including updated statistical data disaggregated by age and sex, on the impact of the measures taken to develop comprehensive and coordinated policies and programmes in relation to vocational guidance, education and training and lifelong learning linked with the PES. It further requests the Government to provide information on the results of measures taken to assist disadvantaged persons in accessing vocational education and training services adapted to their needs, including young persons, older workers, the long-term unemployed and persons with disabilities. Noting the reduction of NTF resources for 2018, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the reasons for this reduction, as well as information on the availability of other resources to support education and training to enable individuals to improve their professional qualifications. It also requests the Government to provide a copy of the Bill amending the Act – Education Law and the Act on the education system and certain other acts, once it has been adopted.

Article 5. Cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Government reports that it undertook a series of activities aimed at enhancing cooperation with Polish employers in formulating and implementing vocational education and training policies and programmes. In this regard, the Committee notes the establishment on 20 January 2015 of a tripartite consultative team responsible for vocational education issues. The Government indicates that the work of the team led to the introduction of a regulation issued by the Minister of National Education on 11 August 2015, which provides for the organization of practical classes at employers’ workplaces that are tailored to the employers’ needs. The Government adds that, to promote coordination and coherence in the provision of vocational education and training, the Ministry of National Education took measures to secure the engagement of representatives of employers’ organizations, local government and professional associations. The Committee notes that, following consultations with employers, the educational system was restructured in September 2017 to provide for the inclusion of a three-year industrial I-tier school providing technical education. In addition, employers’ representatives identified vocational qualification needs on the labour market, resulting in the development of new training curricula in 60 professions, including in five auxiliary professions for students with mental disabilities. The Committee welcomes the new training curricula which were introduced in vocational schools in September 2017. In its observations, Solidarność alleges that the social partners are not actively included in the process of developing educational and labour market policies, and have no voice with regard to the manner in which Labour Fund resources are spent. Moreover, Solidarność maintains that it was not afforded the opportunity to be substantially involved in the process of drafting the new Labour Market Act. The Government, in its reply, indicates that the draft of the new Act was sent for discussion to the Social Dialogue Council and the Labour Market Council, and that it provided the required thirty-day period for review of the draft. Noting the efforts of the Government to enhance cooperation with employers in formulating and implementing vocational education and training policies, the Committee requests the Government to provide updated information on the manner in which the representative organizations of both employers and workers, as well as relevant institutions, have been consulted in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of vocational training and vocational guidance policies and programmes.

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

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.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2008 and the information supplied in reply to its previous request for detailed information on the progress being made. It notes the continuation of the initiatives taken by the Government to strengthen the system of vocational guidance and to improve the system of vocational education in the rural areas through the establishment of a specialist post for vocational development in the labour offices countrywide. It also notes the measures taken which are aimed at further improving the quality of education and its adjustment to the labour market needs based on the programmes developed by the ILO and funded partly by the European Union and the World Bank. Finally, it notes the current amendment process of the 2004 Act on Employment Promotion and Labour Market Institutions. The Committee looks forward to examining in the Government’s next report information on the effective implementation of the reform of the vocational education and training system so as to ensure that: (i) vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes take due account of employment needs, opportunities and problems, both regional and national, thereby improving the integration between work and learning; and (ii) there is coordination between vocational guidance, vocational training policies and programmes and the initiatives taken to promote employment (Article 1(1–4) of the Convention).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2003. It notes the recent initiatives taken by the Government to strengthen the system of vocational guidance and to extend the system of vocational training for adults in the context of a project receiving support from the European Union. It invites the Government to continue to provide detailed information on the progress made in these areas, in particular by providing in its forthcoming reports any extracts of reports, studies, inquiries and statistical data enabling evaluation of the application of the Convention in practice (Part VI of the report form).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee takes note of the information supplied in reply to its previous request with regard to vocational guidance and training activities for adults. The Committee also notes from its examination of the report on Convention No. 122 that the Government in early 1998 announced an overall reform of the education system. The Committee trusts that the Government, in carrying out this reform, will ensure that the provisions of Article 2 of the Convention are taken into consideration. The Committee invites the Government to provide full information in this regard in its next report.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

The Committee takes note of the Government's report and the information provided in reply to its previous direct request. It notes that the current reorganisation of the employment services, to which it also refers in its comments on the application of Convention No. 122, has meant suspending the activities of the interministerial vocational guidance committees, both at the national level and at the voïvodship level. It asks the Government in its next report to provide detailed information on the new procedures for organising the vocational guidance system, unless this information is supplied with the next report on Convention No. 122.

With reference to its previous direct request, the Committee would be grateful if in its next report the Government would provide all available statistical information on the practical application of the Convention (Part VI of the report form).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1988, published 75th ILC session (1988)

The Committee has noted from the Government's report that under the Interdepartmental Commission for Vocational Orientation and Guidance programmes are being elaborated in co-operation with the voivodships, based on an analysis and appraisal of the system. It would be grateful if the Government would in its next report supply further details as to the practical implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance, including information as to co-operation with employers' and workers' organisations and other interested bodies (Article 5 of the Convention) and any available statistical information (point VI of the report form).