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1. The Committee notes with interest the Government's report for the period ending June 1994, which contains valuable information on changes in the employment situation and on the objectives, forecasts and achievements of the VIIIth Economic and Social Development Plan (1992-96). The Committee notes that around 14 per cent of the active population were unemployed in 1993 and that nearly one half of the unemployed were under 25 years of age. The Government states that, in view of the growth of the active population, the creation of new jobs during the first two years of the implementation of the VIIIth Plan was lower than the planned annual average rates required to achieve the objective of an unemployment rate of 13 per cent in 1996. It nevertheless remains confident that this priority objective can be achieved as a result of structural reforms to encourage investment and employment in industry and services, as well as specific measures designed to promote the occupational integration of young persons. The Committee requests the Government to indicate any new general economic policy measure adopted to promote the expansion of employment. In particular, it would be grateful if the Government would indicate the measures that have been taken or are envisaged to ensure that the implementation of the recent association agreement concluded with the European Union has a beneficial impact on the employment situation.

2. The Government reports the harmonization and strengthening during the reporting period of measures to promote the employment of young persons. New measures have been taken to encourage enterprises to recruit the beneficiaries of the various youth employment measures following their training period and, according to the Government, the results achieved bear witness to the improved effectiveness of these measures. The Committee requests the Government to continue supplying detailed information on the evaluation of programmes for the integration of young persons into the labour market and, more generally, on the manner in which education and training policies are coordinated with prospective employment opportunities in the context of the higher school attendance rates. In this respect, the Committee notes the establishment of a National Council for Vocational Training and Employment responsible for issuing opinions and making proposals in the field of employment and training policy. It hopes that the Government will supply full information on the measures proposed by this body and in reply to the request addressed directly to it concerning the application of the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142). The Committee also notes the implementation of a new integrated programme of support for the creation of employment in backward regions which is designed to combat unemployment and poverty in rural areas through the provision of assistance to young entrepreneurs and increased measures to promote artisans and micro-enterprises. It also requests the Government to indicate the results achieved by this programme in its next report.

3. The Committee notes with interest that the National Council for Vocational Training and Employment, referred to above, includes representatives of employers' and workers' organizations. It requests the Government to indicate whether the Economic and Social Council also examines matters relating to employment policy. The Committee recalls in this respect that the consultations required under Article 3 of the Convention should include representatives of the persons affected by the measures to be taken, such as those working in the rural sector and the informal sector, and that they should cover all aspects of economic policy that affect employment.