Private Employment Agencies Recommendation, 1997 (No. 188)
English
ILO
The International Labour Organization is the tripartite U.N. agency that promotes Decent Work through employment, social security, labour standards and social dialogue. Its work on skills development is guided by the conceptual framework on Skills to improve productivity, employment growth, and development agreed in 2008 by representatives of Governments, Employers’ Associations and Workers’ Associations. Research, policy advice, and pilot projects and technical cooperation programmes to apply good practices in different circumstances across its 185 member States aims to boost the employability of workers, the productivity and competitiveness of enterprises, and the inclusiveness of economic growth. The ILO Secretariat in offices in 40 countries works with Ministries of Labour, employers’ organizations, and trade unions to integrate skills development into national and sector development strategies in order to better meet current labour market needs and to prepare for the jobs of the future; to expand access to employment-related training so that youth, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups are better able to acquire skills and secure productive and decent work; and to improve the ability of public employment services to provide career guidance, maintain labour exchange services, and deliver active labour market programmes.For more information regarding the ILO’s work on skills and employability go to: http://www.ilo.org/skills/lang--en/index.htm; for ILO/Cinterfor's Knowledge Management Plarform, see: http://www.oitcinterfor.org
Career guidance and employment services
Career guidance and counselling, career education and lifelong development of skills for employability are key for success in learning activities, effective career transitions, livelihood planning, entrepreneurship and in increasing labour market participation. They are instrumental in promoting skills utilization, recognition (RPL), as well as in improving enterprise human resource management.
Career development activities encompass a wide variety of support activities including career information and advice, counselling, work exposure (e.g. job shadowing, work experience periods), assessment, coaching, mentoring, professional networking, advocacy, basic and employability skills training (curricular and non-curricular) and entrepreneurship training. It is often an area which is fragmented across different ministries (e.g. education, TVET, employment, youth) requiring an effort to achieve the necessary coordination to provide adequate support to individuals during learning, employment and unemployment/inactivity periods.
International standards
International conventions and recommendations and other international instruments on human resource and skills development. Strategy papers on the practical application of international standards from international organizations covering issues related to training, effective utilization and development of skills, and on linking skills to employment.
The Recommendation contains more detailed provisions for the protection of workers in areas already mentioned in the Convention.
The Recommendation calls on member States to adopt all necessary measures to prevent and eliminate unethical practices by private employment agencies and to combat unfair and discriminatory advertising practices.
It provides for the use of a written contract specifying the workers' terms of employment, or at least informing workers, including migrant workers, of the conditions of employment before they begin work.
The Recommendation provides that private employment agencies should not make workers available to a user enterprise in replacement of the enterprise's striking employees, and should not knowingly recruit or place workers for jobs involving unacceptable hazards, or abuse or discriminatory treatment of any kind.
Finally, the Recommendation provides that member States should encourage private employment agencies to promote equality in employment through affirmative action programmes, as well as to advance cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies with respect to the implementation of a national policy on organizing the labour market.
Economic and social rights
Employability
Africa
Americas
Arab States
Asia and the Pacific
Europe and Central Asia
