Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Romania (Ratification: 1973)

Article 2 of the Convention. Employment programmes. Education and training policies. The Committee notes the Government’s reference to the National Employment Strategy 2021–2027, which aims at harnessing the economic potential of young people (including young NEETs) through sustainable employment and implementing the Consolidated Youth Guarantee. The Government intends to achieve this objective through measures which include: (i) development of prevention systems by strengthening partnerships between institutions in the field of employment, education and social protection; (ii) mapping, informing, preparing and providing the actual flexible second chance offer, including in the form of vocational training; (iii) monitoring the situation of NEET young people after integration in the labour market or the education or professional training system; (iv) promoting voluntary work among young people, including NEETs, to familiarize with the jobs requirements and to facilitate the acquisition of new skills; and (v) ensuring that young people, including NEETs, acquire transversal skills with a focus on basic digital skills, career management, communication and team work, social and green entrepreneurship skills. The Government also refers to Law No. 76/2002 regarding the unemployment insurance system and the stimulation of employment including through participation in vocational training programs that ensure growth and diversification of professional skills. The Government further informs that the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection through the National Agency for Employment promotes and implements measures that combine employment with vocational training of the workforce and create opportunities for young people, including NEETs, to acquire new skills by participating in apprenticeship programs and internships. In addition, the Committee notes that the Education and Employment Program 2021–2027 aims to contribute to the creation of an educational system relevant to the labour market demands including through programs for acquiring digital skills.

The Committee also notes the detailed statistical information provided by the Government on the implementation of the National Vocational Training Plan in the period 2018–2021. In 2021, 7,749 persons belonging to disadvantaged groups have benefited from vocational training, including 1,549 long-term unemployed, 5,590 unemployed from rural areas, 28 unemployed with disabilities, 234 unemployed members of the Roma community, 28 persons released from detention and 312 persons in detention. The Committee also notes, that in 2021 the National Employment Agency organized vocational training programmes and skills assessment services for 16,569 participants, including 11,351 unemployed persons and 2,655 beneficiaries of on-the-job training through apprenticeship programmes. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information concerning training programmes for the unemployed and other categories of vulnerable workers. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on measures envisaged or adopted in collaboration with the social partners to enhance the quality and labour market relevance of the education and training system.

Promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). The Government informs about the possibility of the establishment of social enterprises and social insertion enterprises, together with vocational training programmes in the field of entrepreneurship to be financed by the Education and Employment Programme 2021–2027 and the Inclusion and Social Dignity Programme 2021–2027. The Committee notes that measures to promote entrepreneurship include free granting of the social enterprise certificate, the social insertion mark and registration in the single record register and free consultation regarding the attestation and certification process. According to the provided statistical information, as of 30 June 2023, 2,623 social enterprise certificates and 185 social enterprise certificates of insertion were active. The Committee requests theGovernment to continue providing information on the measures taken to support the creation of small and medium-sized enterprises and on their impact in terms of stimulating employment and creation of decent jobs.