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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its earlier comments. It also notes the new observations on the application of the Convention made in September 1994 by the General Union of Workers (UGT), which have been transmitted to the Government for comments. The union reiterates its previous statement to the effect that the National Employment Institute (INEM) does not efficiently perform its tasks to ensure effective recruitment and placement of workers and to assist them to obtain vocational training because of insufficient staffing. The UGT also repeats its allegations according to which the unions' participation is limited to merely receiving information, and it is not consulted through the General Council of the INEM.

In its reply to the observations made by the union the Government describes the recent legislative developments in the field of employment promotion and organization of the employment market, as well as various measures taken by the INEM concerning employment. In particular the measures include the cooperation with public and private bodies at the national and local levels with a view to ameliorate the employment situation, the arrangements made to meet the needs of particular categories of applicants for employment, such as disabled persons and juveniles, and the administration of unemployment insurance. As regards, more specifically, vocational training, the Government refers to Royal Decree No. 631/93 which lays down the National Vocational Training Plan and to Organic Law 1/1990 which provides for a Qualification and Classification Plan for applicants for employment, as well as to measures provided for in Order of 13 April 1994 and Resolution of 27 December 1993. Concerning consultation of employers' and workers' representatives, the Government states that the social partners are assigned important functions at the General Council, Executive Committee and Provincial Executive Committees of the INEM, which include their participation in the elaboration of the criteria of the functioning of the Institute and of the draft budget, as well as in the approval of the annual report. As regards the staff of the INEM, the Government expresses the opinion that its composition meets the requirements of the Convention concerning the status and conditions of service of the employment service staff.

The Committee has noted this information, as well as statistical data supplied by the Government concerning the number of applications for employment, vacancies and placements. It would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information on the arrangements made at the national, regional and local levels, through the respective General Council, Executive Committee and Provincial Executive Committees of the INEM, for the cooperation of employer and worker representatives in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy, as required by the report form under Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention.

Please also continue to describe the activities the employment service performs in order to carry out effectively its functions, as required by the report form under Article 6.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would also continue to provide general information concerning the methods of recruitment and selection of the INEM staff, indicating, in particular, the arrangements made to ensure the staff's training for the performance of their duties, as required by the report form under Article 9, paragraphs 2 and 4.