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1. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending June 1996. The Committee realizes the employment difficulties raised by transition to a system where labour demand depends only on decisions of enterprises. It requests the Government to continue to supply as much detailed statistical information as possible on employment, unemployment and underemployment. Please indicate the measures taken or contemplated for the purpose of collecting and analysing the data needed for decision-making in the labour policy field.

2. The Committee notes with interest that a tripartite conference on labour policy was held, with ILO assistance, in February 1996, and that it adopted important recommendations on macroeconomic policies, labour market policies, labour relations and social protection. The Committee considers that these recommendations constitute an appropriate framework for the formulation and application of an active policy aimed at promoting full, productive and freely chosen employment in accordance with the Convention. It requests the Government to supply in its next report detailed information on the application given to these recommendations. In particular, please supply the information required by the report form under Article 1 of the Convention.

3. The Committee also notes the adoption by Presidential Decree in May 1996 of the Programme on creating and preserving job opportunities for the period 1996-2000. It would be grateful if the Government would supply complete information in its next report on the implementation of the measures taken in application of this programme and on any results obtained by the various intervention measures in the labour market.

4. Article 3. The Committee notes the indication to the effect that consultations on labour problems are held in the tripartite commission for social relations and labour. It also notes that the new Law on additions and amendments to the Law of the Russian Federation on Employment of the Population does not provide for the participation of employers' organizations on an equal footing with workers' organizations in preparing and applying labour policy. It requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure that employers' organizations as well as workers' organizations are fully associated in consultations on labour policy, and to describe the activities of the various consultative bodies concerned in the light of this Article.