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1. The Committee notes the detailed information supplied in the Government's report in reply to its previous direct request. The Government indicates that, during the second period of economic reform, an important objective of employment policy is to promote action to change the current structure of employment. The need to restructure the economy is a result of the demographic situation, the objective of balanced development for the socialist and non-socialist sectors of the economy and the need to redeploy manpower from the productive to the non-productive sphere, by promoting employment, in particular, in the service sector. The Committee notes that developments regarding employment are considered by the Government to be too slow. It hopes that the Government will continue to supply information in this respect and will indicate the extent to which the difficulties that have been encountered have been overcome and supply data on the situation, level and trends of employment in the various economic sectors. Please, in particular, indicate the impact of measures taken regarding prices, incomes and wages policy on employment in the various sectors of the national economy (see the questions in the report form for Article 1 of the Convention).

2. The statistical data supplied by the Government in its report show a slight decrease in employment in the socialist sector between 1986 and 1987. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply information on the branches of activity in which employment has declined. Please indicate whether, in the context of the implementation of the reform of enterprises, a significant number of job losses and enterprise closures are foreseen. Please specify the measures that have been taken or are envisaged to encourage the mobility of the labour force and guarantee suitable employment to redundant workers (Article 1, paragraph 2(c)). Please refer in particular to the adjustment measures that have been taken or are envisaged in certain industrial sectors, such as shipbuilding and steel.

3. Please describe the procedures adopted to guarantee that effects on employment are taken into consideration when economic recovery measures are implemented in Poland and that the main employment policy measures are determined and regularly reviewed in the framework of a co-ordinated economic and social policy (Article 2).

4. The Committee notes the importance given to the role of handicrafts and individual skills. It would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply detailed information on the development of employment in these sectors, specifying the nature of the activities covered, the conditions of employment and the position of persons so occupied under the labour legislation.

5. The Committee notes the measures taken to encourage the employment of specific categories of workers, such as the disabled and the elderly. It would be grateful if the Government would continue describing the efforts undertaken and the results obtained to satisfy the needs of the disabled, basing itself, where appropriate, on the relevant provisions of the 1983 standards on vocational rehabilitation and the employment of the disabled. Please also continue to supply information on the impact of measures to promote the employment of workers who are entitled to retirement pensions, with particular reference to the use of part-time work and other flexible arrangements.

6. The Committee notes the information on employment in the agricultural sector. It notes in particular the significant downward trend in the participation of women in this sector and their migration to towns. Please continue to supply information on employment and production trends in both the socialist and non-socialist agricultural sectors. Please indicate the measures that have been taken or are envisaged to satisfy the needs of women workers in the rural sector and of women who go to find employment in the urban sector.

7. The Committee notes the information supplied concerning vocational guidance. With reference to its comments on the application of Convention No. 142, it requests the Government to continue supplying information on this subject, with emphasis on the measures taken to co-ordinate education and training policies with employment prospects.

8. Article 3. The Committee notes with interest the information supplied in the Government's report concerning the consultation of agricultural trade union organisations and farmers' organisations, in the context of the national consultation system for agricultural questions. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply additional information on the way in which the representatives of the persons concerned by the measures to be taken by both employers' and workers' representative organisations and representatives of other sectors of the active population are consulted within the context of the current economic restructuring process, regarding employment policies.