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1. The Committee notes the Government's report covering the period 1994-96 and the information it contains in reply to its previous direct request. It notes that maintenance of a satisfactory economic growth rate during the period has provided continued growth in employment and the stabilization of the unemployment rate at around 3 per cent of the active population which is equivalent, according to the Government, to full employment. The Committee notes that the shortage of unskilled labour leads to increased employment of foreign labour while the supply of qualified labour exceeds demand. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supplement, in its next report, the valuable statistical information on the evolution of employment by more detailed data on unemployment by sex, age, sector of activity and skill level.

2. The Government indicates that the objectives of economic policies which it described in its previous report remained unchanged during the period. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information on how the measures to be taken in pursuing the objectives of full, productive and freely chosen employment are determined and reviewed regularly "within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy" (Article 2 of the Convention). In particular, please provide information on any new measures which may have been adopted to promote diversification of activities and to cope with increased international competition in exports.

3. With reference to its previous request, the Committee notes that the study on the labour market prospects by the Industrial Training Authority is expected to cover the period 1996-2000 and to be available in 1997. Please supply a copy of this study. The Committee has also been informed of a study published jointly by the Industrial Training Authority and the ILO on the skill development system. Please indicate the follow-up given to the recommendations of this study. Please continue to supply information on programmes, including the assessment of their effectiveness, designed to respond to problems of employment for tertiary education graduates.

4. The Committee notes the information concerning consultations with the representatives of employers and workers held in the Labour Advisory Board during the period. Recalling that the consultations provided by Article 3 should be extended to all aspects of the economic policy having an impact on employment and involve all the persons affected, the Committee requests the Government to continue to supply detailed information on the application of this important provision of the Convention.