Guidelines for establishing emergency public employment services

Describes the role of employment services in post-crisis labour markets. Presents detailed guidelines on setting up and running a public employment service (PES).

Employment services are a pivotal element of labour markets, in building bridges between job seekers and employment opportunities. This role becomes essential in the aftermath of crises, when changes in labour supply and demand are larger, occur at a faster pace, and needs are pressing, particularly from job seekers’ viewpoint. Yet in emergencies employment services often tend to be overlooked, and even when some capacity already exists, they may not be adapted to the post-crisis environment.

This manual provides easy to use guidance to ILO staff, constituents, partners and other actors involved in crisis response, on how to set up effective and efficient emergency employment services in post-crisis contexts. Namely:

· Conducting needs assessments (of existing Employment Service (ES) facilities and needs)

· Functions of emergency Public Employment Service (PES)

· Meeting the needs of special groups of job seekers (displaced, old, disabled persons, youth, ex-combatants and women)

· Special features of emergency PES (pro active, flexible, visible, result- and client-oriented)

· Core partnerships (with national authorities, employers’ and workers’ associations, NGOs, private ES, international agencies)

· Steps in setting up emergency PES (location, priorities, staff, work organization, etc.)

· Details on day-to-day operations (including basic forms, other documents and tools used in PES)

· Promoting longer-terms sustainability of PES operations.

This is a standard package, designed to be used flexibly and pragmatically, to answer the specific needs of very diverse crisis contexts and levels of development, and steer rapid response action.