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The Committee took note of the Government's report for the period ending June 1996. It observes, however, that the general information supplied by the Government does not provide precise responses to its previous request and does not enable it to assess fully the effect given to the Convention. The Committee again invites the Government to provide, in its next report, complete information in response to each of the questions in the report form approved by the Governing Body and on the following points.

1. The Committee observes that the statistics provided by the Government in its report still do not permit to assess the precise extent of the problems of unemployment and underemployment, together with their underlying trends. The report states that on 1 June 1996 registered unemployment stood at 0.79 per cent, but it does not refer to the labour force surveys which concluded that the unemployment rate was 5.6 per cent in October 1995 and 7.6 per cent in October 1996. The Committee invites the Government to explain, in its next report, the reasons for the significant discrepancy between registered unemployment and that identified by the labour force surveys. It feels that it is necessary to emphasize that as precise knowledge as possible of the employment situation and trends, as well as of unemployment and underemployment, is essential in deciding which measures to take and how to adapt them to the changes occurring. The Committee considers, in particular, that in a situation characterized by the retention in enterprises of a significant number of excess staff on unpaid leave, in technical unemployment or working reduced hours, as well as by an increase in the share of informal activity, it is important to ensure that the active labour market policy measures implemented by the employment services should be accessible to all jobseekers and not only to those formally registered as unemployed.

2. The Government's report refers in general terms to the National Programme for the Employment of the Population 1996-2000; it also refers to the existence of programmes specific to certain regions or certain sectors, but indicates that the implementation of the employment plans and programmes is constrained by the economic and financial situation in the country. With reference to its previous request, the Committee hopes that the Government will indicate, in its next report, the way in which it envisages the structural reform of the labour market in the context of the transition towards a market economy, and that it will provide all the information required in the report form on the way in which the measures taken in the main areas of general economic policy contribute, "within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy", to the promotion of full, productive and freely chosen employment, in accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. In particular, please indicate the measures taken for this purpose with regard to investment policy, budgetary, monetary and exchange rates policy, commercial policy and prices, incomes and wages policy.

3. The Committee also invites the Government to describe the active labour market policy measures which are being implemented. In particular, please provide information on the implementation of the training and retraining programme for the unemployed approved in February 1996. Please indicate whether measures are planned to promote the establishment of small and medium-sized enterprises or to encourage self-employment. Please describe the measures taken in the regions identified by the National Employment Programme as having particularly serious unemployment problems, by specifying the planned job-creation objectives and the results which could be obtained. In addition, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would describe the activities of the employment promotion fund and its method of financing.

4. Article 3. The Committee notes that tripartite committees for coordinating employment promotion have been set up. It would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the terms of reference of these committees and on the manner in which they ensure consultations with the persons affected concerning the formulation and application of employment policy measures. The Committee noted that, in its previous report, the Government referred to the establishment of the National Council of the Social Partners. It requests the Government to indicate whether issues relating to employment policy, as defined in the Convention, are referred to the Council. Finally, the Committee observed in its previous comments that the Law on the Employment of the Population did not recognize the right of employers' organizations to participate in the preparation of employment policy or of legislation in this area, nor the right to regular consultations on employment problems, while the participation of workers' trade unions was guaranteed. The Committee again requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that, in law and in practice, employers' organizations are fully involved in all consultations relating to employment policies on an equal footing with workers' trade unions.