Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Nicaragua (Ratification: 1977)

The Committee takes note of the supplementary information provided by the Government in light of the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 338th Session (June 2020). The Committee proceeded with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the supplementary information received from the Government this year, as well as on the basis of the information at its disposal in 2019.

Articles 1–4 of the Convention. Implementation of vocational training and guidance policies and programmes. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of the “National human development programme 2018–21” in December 2017, whose components include improvements to: ensuring the relevance and quality of technical education and vocational training, in line with the economic and social development needs of the country; developing technical and technological training programmes to promote the management, productivity and competitiveness of undertakings in collaboration with central and local private and public institutions; and reinforcing pedagogical training for teachers, including technical and technological refresher programmes. Moreover, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report regarding the programmes implemented by the Ministry of Economic Affairs for the Family, Communities, Cooperatives and Associations (MEFCCA) to ensure access to vocational training and guidance for women, indigenous peoples, Afro-Nicaraguan persons, inhabitants of rural areas, and workers in the informal economy. In particular, the Government refers to the implementation of various training programmes for producers of coffee, cocoa, staple grains and sesame, such as the “Special support plan for small-scale producers (CRISSOL)” and the programme “Improving the organizational and productive capacities of cocoa producers in the ‘mining triangle’ (PROCACAO)”. The Government also indicates that, between 2014 and 2018, 30,655 indigenous and Afro-Nicaraguan families from the North Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (RACCN) and the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region (RACCS) received training in agricultural, small-scale and agro-industrial production and small-scale business in the context of various projects, including the “Support project for increasing productivity and food and nutritional security on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua” and the “Support project for Tuno women craft workers in the Sakalwas community”. The Committee also notes the Government’s reference to the implementation of training programmes by the National Technological Institute (INATEC), such as support programmes for entrepreneurship and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and of the “National programme for technical education in rural areas” with a view to bridging gaps in education, increasing productivity in rural areas and increasing the coverage of technical education. The Committee also notes the updated information provided by the Government in its supplementary report concerning the number of persons trained and, in general, the number of jobs generated directly and indirectly under the above-mentioned programmes and projects implemented between 2019 and March 2020. However, the Committee notes that the Government does not provide any information on measures taken or envisaged to guarantee access to vocational training and guidance for persons with disabilities. In this regard, the Committee recalls that Article 1(5) of the Convention provides that [vocational guidance and training] “policies and programmes shall encourage and enable all persons, on an equal basis and without any discrimination whatsoever, to develop and use their capabilities for work in their own best interests and in accordance with their own aspirations, account being taken of the needs of society.” Accordingly, Paragraph 5(g) and (h) of the Human Resources Development Recommendation, 2004 (No. 195), refers to the need to adopt measures to promote equal opportunities for women and men in education, training and lifelong learning; and to promote access to education, training and lifelong learning for youth, low-skilled people, persons with disabilities, migrants, older workers, indigenous peoples, ethnic minority groups and the socially excluded; and for workers in small and medium-sized enterprises, in the informal economy, in the rural sector and in self-employment.

The Committee notes, however, that the Government has still not provided the requested information on the impact of such programmes, including statistics disaggregated by age and sex. In this regard, the Committee observes that the Government does not indicate in its report what measures have been adopted or envisaged with a view to gathering statistical information on the results achieved in terms of the labour market insertion of participants in vocational training activities. The Committee once again refers to Paragraph 16 of Recommendation No. 195, which provides that “Members should evaluate the impact of their education, training and lifelong learning policies on the progress made towards achieving broader human development goals, such as the creation of decent jobs and poverty eradication.” The Committee therefore requests the Government to continue sending detailed information on the measures adopted or envisaged to guarantee access to vocational training and guidance for groups of workers in vulnerable situations, such as women, young persons, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, inhabitants of rural areas and workers in the informal economy. It also requests the Government to supply information on the manner in which such measures encourage and enable all persons, on an equal basis and without any discrimination whatsoever, to develop and use their capabilities for work in their own best interests and in accordance with their own aspirations, account being taken of the needs of society. The Committee also once again requests the Government to provide up-to-date detailed information, including statistics disaggregated by age and sex, on the impact of policies and programmes implemented in relation to vocational guidance and training, including those adopted in the context of the National human development programme 2018–21. Furthermore, the Committee once again requests the Government to indicate the measures adopted or envisaged with a view to gathering statistical information on the results achieved in terms of the labour market insertion of participants in vocational training activities.

Article 5. Cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations. In its previous comments, the Committee asked the Government to provide specific, detailed information on the manner in which the social partners and representatives of the private sector have been consulted in relation to the formulation, implementation and monitoring of vocational guidance and training programmes. However, the Committee notes that the Government has not included information on this matter in its report. In this regard, the Committee recalls that Article 5 of the Convention provides that “policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training shall be formulated and implemented in cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations and, as appropriate and in accordance with national law and practice, with other interested bodies”. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to send detailed, up-to-date information on the manner in which the social partners and representatives of the private sector have been consulted in relation to the formulation, implementation and monitoring of vocational guidance and training programmes.

COVID-19 pandemic. In the context of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the Committee recalls the broad guidance provided by international labour standards. In this regard, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to Paragraphs 18–20 of the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation, 2017 (No. 205), which constitute a guide for the adoption and implementation of measures in the area of education, training and lifelong learning that respond effectively to the profound socio-economic effects of the pandemic. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report up-to-date information on the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic on the implementation of education, training and lifelong learning policies and programmes.