The Global Jobs Pact: Guiding Principles and Implementation at the - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Global Jobs Pact: Guiding Principles and Implementation at the Country Level Presented by Professor Neville Ying January 26, 2011

DISCLAIMER This paper incorporates the views of the author and does not represent the official views of the country. The author was a member of the Drafting Committee at the ILO Conference, Geneva, June 2009 for preparing the Global Jobs Pact document, and a member of the National Partnership for Transformation Council and its Working Committee for Job Creation and Employment.

Introduction The purpose of the presentation is to indicate approaches that should be utilized at the country level in order to successfully apply and implement the Global Jobs Pact. Jamaica will be used as a case.

STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF PRESENTATION  Overview  Principles and implementation approaches at the country level  Principle  Implementation Approach  Initiative  Conclusion

Overview The intention of the presentation is to make evaluative comments in relation to the ILO paper “Crisis responses: Applying the Global Jobs Pact” This will be done with particular reference to Jamaica. Indications will also be provided for a sample of initiatives taken or contemplated to enable each principle to be translated into practical actions.

Overview (Cont’d) There is a single word that embodies the impact of the global financial crisis. It is JOBS. In response to this situation The Global Jobs Pact was developed and promoted internationally by the ILO placing emphasis on both recession recovery and opportunities and challenges in the post recession period.

Overview (Cont’d) The major challenge for developing countries such as Jamaica to implement the Global Jobs Pact is fiscal space. A related dilemma is whether to focus first on economic growth or job creation and employment.

Overview (Cont’d) In consideration of these challenges the anatomy of the Global Jobs Pact embodies guiding principles foremost of which is policy coherence and synchronization of financing. This principle in particular invites the coordinated support of International Financial Institutions, such as: the IMF, World Bank and IDB as well as developed countries such as those in the G8 and G20 groups to assist developing and vulnerable economies such as Jamaica to work their way out of the crisis.

Overview (Cont’d) The other principles emphasize the important elements of the Decent Work Agenda and Sustainable Business Enterprises for the creation of the social, economic and environmental climate for providing jobs and a social protection floor for employees.

Overview (Cont’d) In Jamaica three major problems to be addressed are the restricted fiscal space due to the high level of public debt; the high level of crime; and high level of unemployment. In relation to the latter there have been significant job losses in Jamaica since the recession.

Overview (Cont’d)  There is also the important issue of unemployment of youth especially in inner-city communities that needs to be addressed with urgency.  “ 26% of (young adults) between the age of 20-24 are unemployed.  38% of young adults living in the inner-city are unemployed.  The national unemployment rate is 11.6%.” [i] [i] Youth Upliftment through Employment ,YUTE, An Aggressive 21/2 year programmatic approach through a private sector led coalition, Executive Summary , Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) October 2010

GLOBAL JOBS PACT: PRINCIPLES AND IMPLEMENTATION AT THE COUNTRY LEVEL 1. Policy coherence, synchronized Financing and Sustainability 2. Jobs at the Centre of recovery strategies 3. Centrality of Decent Work Agenda

I. Policy Coherence, Synchronized Financing and Sustainability Principle There should be a coordinated and synchronized international programme of assistance involving collaboration, partnerships and strategic alliances. The main actors in this process should be countries in the G8 and G20 groups together with international financial institutions and multilateral agencies. Emphasis should be given to assistance to developing and vulnerable countries.

I. Policy Coherence, Synchronized Financing and Sustainability (Cont’d) Implementation Approach There should be a close and collaborative working relationship between the developing country seeking financial assistance and blocks of countries such as G20 and BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India China) countries and Multilateral and International Financial Institutions – IMF, World Bank, IDB. This should be done to secure a coordinated response for financial support. This support should be utilized to facilitate the implementation of a set of nationally integrated set of policies related to economic growth, job creation, employment and social protection.

I. Policy coherence, synchronized Financing and Sustainability (Cont‟d) Implementation Approach As a starting point at the country level there should be national consensus on a combination of priorities for tackling the global financial crisis. This combination should incorporate in an integrated manner the use of the three pillars: social, economic and environment.

I. Policy coherence, synchronized Financing and Sustainability ( Cont‟d) Implementation Approach There should also be collaboration across and among government agencies and ministries in the development and implementation of policies and actions for crisis recovery. Some critical areas for this collaborative approach are: Energy, Food Security, Crime and violence, Youth employment, Creative Industries, and Diaspora Affairs.

I. Policy coherence, synchronized Financing and Sustainability (Cont‟d) Strategies and initiatives developed for dealing with the recession should incorporate the four strategic objectives of the ILO Declaration on Social justice for a fair Globalization: employment, social protection, labour standards and social dialogue . In addition, these objectives should follow the IIMS principle which means that they are Inseparable, Interrelated and Mutually Supportive (IIMS) .[i] [i] The IIMS Principle was enunciated by the ILO in the discussions of the Committee for the Recurrent Discussions on Employment at the ILO Conference, 99th session, Geneva, June, 2010.

I. Policy coherence, synchronized Financing and Sustainability Actions related to the principles Policy coherence synchronized Financing and Sustainability in Jamaica have focused on Creating an Enabling Environment for Economic and Social Development through two major initiatives:  National Partnership for Transformation (PFT) and  Synchronized Financing

I. Policy coherence, synchronized Financing and Sustainability (Cont‟d) Initiatives The Partnership for Transformation (PFT ) Council in Jamaica is essentially a tripartite group and includes government, employers, trade unions, academia and civil society representatives. Its efforts are focused on establishing an integrated set of national development strategies. This is being done through six priority areas which form the framework for deliberations aimed at consensus on policies, enabling legislation and coordinated actions for economic growth, jobs and social development. These priority areas are:  Law and Order  Fiscal and Monetary Performance  Tax Policy/Tax Administration  Education and Training  Job Creation and Employment  Trust among Partners

I. Policy coherence, synchronized Financing and Sustainability (Cont‟d) Initiatives Synchronized financing  A Standby Agreement has been established with the IMF for US$ 1.27 billion over a 27 month period for balance of payment support.  Significant complementary funding has also been secured from the IDB. In the case of the IDB there is a commitment of over US$ 600 million policy based loans for the Fiscal Consolidated Programme over the two-year period of the IMF Agreement.  There has also been multilateral and bilateral funding support for a range of special projects covering areas such as social protection, community development and infrastructure development. This has been provided from a variety of sources including the World Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), USAID, DFID, China, Japan, Czech Republic, India, Venezuela and the European Union.  There was also a successful Jamaica Debt Exchange (JDX) initiative which has contributed to the lowering of interest rates.

II. Jobs at the Centre of Recovery Strategies (Cont‟d) Principle Job Creation and Employment should be at the centre of the strategic response to the financial crisis.