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1. The Committee notes the Government's report for the period between July 1985 and June 1988. The Government indicates that the favourable level of economic activity has resulted in a decrease in the unemployment rate, which in the last quarter of 1987 was 9.7 per cent and in June-August 1988 between 7 and 8 per cent, thereby giving the lowest unemployment rate since 1982. Unemployment among women continues to be higher than among men, at least in Montevideo. Young persons under 25 years of age have been the group worst affected by unemployment, with an unemployment rate of 21.8 per cent in June-August 1988. The Committee once again notes the overall improvement in the labour market following the favourable economic development in the country. The Committee requests the Government to continue supplying detailed information in its next report on the situation, level and trends of employment in the country and to indicate the employment objectives set out in development plans and programmes and state the extent to which these objectives have been or are being attained (Article 1 of the Convention).2. The Committee refers to its 1987 direct request and asks the Government to describe in its next report the measures adopted to meet the employment needs of all, with particular reference to sectoral development policies in relation to an employment policy that is in accordance with the objectives of the Convention. Please describe the investment policy and the fiscal and monetary policies and specify the manner in which the general guide-lines and standards set out by the Superior Wage Council have taken into account employment objectives (please refer to the questions raised by the report form for Article 1).

3. The Committee notes with interest the employment surveys undertaken by the National Human Resources Directorate. It requests the Government to continue supplying statistical information on the size and distribution of the labour force and the extent to which these surveys have contributed as a basis for deciding on measures of employment policy (Article 2).

4. Please describe in the next report the measures that have been taken or are envisaged to co-ordinate education and training policies with prospective employment opportunities.

5. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the texts governing the system of the supply and demand of labour in the loading and unloading of frozen meat for export, the employment service for the crews of fishing vessels and the extension in the interior of the country of the sheep-shearing employment service. The Committee also notes the conclusions referred to by the Government in its report of the national tripartite seminar on labour administration and precarious employment, organised together with the CIAT in October 1987. It notes, among these conclusions, "the express will of the representatives of employers' and workers' organisations and of the State to organise a tripartite working group to plan and organise activities relating to precarious employment". The Committee requests the Government to continue supplying information on the activities of the above tripartite working group in relation to employment policy.

6. In addition to the above, and with reference to its previous comments, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report the progress achieved in the consultation of persons affected by employment policy measures (representatives of employers' and workers' organisations and representatives of other sectors of the economically active population such as those working in the rural sector and the informal sector) (Article 3).

7. The Committee notes with interest the creation of a "National Commission for Minors, Women and the Family", a "National Training and Rehabilitation Committee", and a "Co-ordinating Commission for Youth". It requests the Government to indicate in future reports the impact on the needs of particular categories of workers of employment measures taken by the above bodies and the measures adopted to respond to the needs of all categories of persons who frequently encounter difficulty in finding lasting employment (the Government may consider it useful to consult Part III of the Employment Policy (Supplementary Provisions) Recommendation, 1984 (No. 169), which is annexed to the report form for the Convention).