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Joint Meeting on Human Resource Development
in the Public Service in the Context of Structural Adjustment and Transition
Geneva, 14-18 December 1998
 Background
The current changes in the public service worldwide affect many work programmes
of the ILO. The main interest for the Sectoral Activities Programme in examining
conditions and changes in the public service relates to its importance as an employer.
Within this Programme, a standing body (the Joint Committee on the Public Service)
regularly met in the past to consider general developments in the public service
as well as more specific items. Since 1995, joint meetings between governments
and workers’ organizations have been organized on specific themes of current interest.
In that year, a meeting took place on the “Impact of structural adjustment in
the public services (efficiency, quality improvement and working conditions)”.
In its conclusions, the meeting emphasized the importance of good working conditions
and the applicability of international labour standards for efficiency and performance
of the public service. Public sector reforms were most likely to achieve their
objective of delivering efficient, effective and high-quality services when planned
and implemented with full participation of public sector workers and their unions
and consumers of public services at all stages of the decision-making process.
Continuing dialogue between governments and the civil society as a whole, including
public sector workers, should be ensured. Effective communication, consultation
and negotiation with a view to reaching agreement with workers and their unions,
are essential during restructuring.
Although many countries recognize by constitutional or legislative means the right of association and of negotiation for public employees as for other employees, restrictions are in force concerning the exercise of trade union activities and the right to strike in some of them. In a large number of countries negotiations or consultations on conditions of employment may be held between unions and central and local administrations. The ILO Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98) applies also to public service personnel. It does not deal, however, with the position of public servants engaged in the administration of the State. Recalling this regulation, the Labour Relations (Public Service) Convention, 1978 ( No. 151) and Recommendation (No. 159) set the framework for the right to organize for public service workers and for protecting them against discrimination in the exercise of trade union rights. These ILO standards recognize the right of public employees to negotiate or of other methods of participating in the determination of their employment conditions.
Human resource development in the public service is today frequently put on the agenda of the reform processes and in the discussion about the public/private mix of a country's economy. After years of a deteriorating image for public service personnel, it is increasingly recognized that without qualified, motivated and committed staff, the state cannot play the role assigned to it in a rapidly changing and globalized economy. After considering the public service personnel only as a cost factor in public budgets which had to be cut, it has become evident that the participation of these persons and human resource development are vital to the reform processes.
Objectives
The meeting discussed research findings in this area which the Office summarized in a report to the Meeting. Furthermore, it unanimously adopted conclusions containing guidelines on human resource development in the public service in the context of structural adjustment and transition, including the role of the ILO and other international institutions. The meeting's discussions, conclusions, and summaries of its panel discussions are contained in the recently published Note on the Proceedings.
Composition
The meeting was attended by representatives of governments of 22 member States and 28 Workers’ representatives nominated by the Workers’ Group of the ILO Governing Body. The governments of the following countries attended: Benin, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo, Cyprus, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, Hungary, India, Republic of Korea, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Russian Federation, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The list of participants is contained in the Note on the Proceedings.
The International Labour Office prepared a report to the meeting which summarized developments in politics, practice and research in the area of the meeting’s theme. The report was sent to participants before the meeting.
The main issues covered by the Report include:
- Trends, Concepts and Policies
Development trends in public service reforms
Human resource development (HRD) in the public service - a concept beyond education and training
Public employment and size of public
service
Structural adjustment and transition - Impact on the public service
- ILO policies and activities related to the public service in structural adjustment and transition
Freedom of association standards and principles relevant to the public service
Sectoral meetings
Research activities, advisory services and technical cooperation
Training activities of the Turin Centre
- Training for the public service in countries undergoing structural adjustment and transition
Training as a condition for management of change
Actors involved in training
Developing countries
Countries in transition
Industrialized countries
- The impact of working conditions on the human resource development in the public service
Pay
Work organization
Job rotation
Changes in technology
Safety and health
Culture of the workplace
Social recognition
Decentralization
Working conditions and corruptibility
- The impact of terms of employment on the human resource development in the public service
Legal status of public servants and employment security
Contract arrangements
Equal opportunity and treatment
- Alternatives for retrenched workers (including severance packages and group initiatives)
- Labour management relation and their role in human resource development
- Points for discussion and for a framework for guidelines on human resource development in the context of structural adjustment and transition
Ms. Gabriel Ullrich,
Services Team,
Sectoral Activities Department,
International Labour Office,
4, route des Morillons,
CH-1211 GENEVE 22 -- Switzerland
Tel. (41.22) 799-6819, Fax (41.22) 799-7046,
e-mail: ullrich@ilo.org
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