CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending June 1996 and the information it contains on certain aspects of the application of the Convention. It would be grateful if the Government would provide fuller information in its next report in reply to each of the questions in the report form adopted by the Governing Body, and particularly on the following points.

1. The Committee notes the information concerning the collection of labour market data under the 1994 general census and the special surveys on employment, unemployment and income carried out periodically by the Department of General Statistics. It asks the Government to communicate the results of these surveys, particularly as regards levels and trends in employment, underemployment and unemployment, for the country as a whole and in the various regions, by sector of activity, sex, age and skill level.

2. The Committee notes the general information concerning the main employment objectives of the 1993-1997 National Economic and Social Development Plan. It asks the Government to provide more detailed information on how the orientations of the main general and sectoral development policies are determined and kept under review in terms of their contribution, "as a major goal" to the promotion of full, productive and freely chosen employment, in accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Please specify in particular the impact, noted or expected, on employment of the measures taken with support from the International Monetary Fund as regards monetary and budgetary policy and prices, incomes and wages policy. Please also state the consequences for employment of the policy to strengthen the private sector. The Committee reminds the Government that it is interested in any information concerning the migration for employment policy.

3. The Committee notes the detailed description of the activities of the Development and Employment Fund created by Act No. 33 of 1992 and the Fund's activities report sent with the Government's report. Please continue to provide information on employment promotion measures and measures to reduce poverty through preferential funding for small enterprises, and the results obtained through such measures. Please also continue to provide information on the development of vocational training activities, stating how they are coordinated with employment prospects.

4. Article 3. The Committee notes that representatives of the various sectors concerned are members of the Board of Directors of the Development and Employment Fund. It also notes that representatives of trade unions and employers' organizations are associated with the administration of the Vocational Training Institute, the Education and Learning Council and the Economic and Social Council. The Committee recalls that the consultations required by this provision of the Convention should be extended to all aspects of economic and social policy having an influence on employment and should include, as well as employers' and workers' representatives, representatives from other sectors of the active population, such as persons employed in the rural sector or the informal sector. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate the duties and responsibilities of the various bodies it refers to that enable the necessary consultations to be ensured effectively.

5. Part V of the report form. The Committee recalls that it is interested in information on any ILO advisory or technical cooperation activities from which the Government may have benefited with regard to employment or human resource development policy, and any action taken as a result.