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1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report, as well as the comments made by the Turkish Confederation of Employers' Associations (TISK) and the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TURK-IS). According to the Turkish National Statistics Institute, general unemployment stood at 6.9 per cent in 1997, with 9.7 per cent in urban areas and 4.2 per cent in rural areas. The Committee observes in particular that the unemployment rate has exceeded 30 per cent among young people graduated from upper secondary schools and universities in the cities, as indicated in Turkey's Seventh Five-Year Development Plan, 1996-2000. It would appreciate receiving further information on the measures taken or envisaged to remedy this situation. The Committee is also aware of the widespread suffering and great loss caused recently by the earthquakes and expresses its hope for a quick recovery.

2. The Government reports that policy measures have been taken on various issues impeding full employment. These policies include revenue tax breaks and a decrease in social security contributions to improve investment in priority development regions in Turkey; developing new products to expand Turkey's export markets; and assisting regions with particularly high unemployment rates through support and assistance to small and medium enterprises. Furthermore, the Government has rapidly increased compulsory education from five to eight years of schooling. The Committee notes this information with great interest and requests further details on the impact of these projects on expanding employment. It would also appreciate receiving information on wage and income policies, as requested in the report form under Article 1 of the Convention.

3. The Government states that through the employment and training project, in effect since 1995, the State Employment Agency has organized more than 4,000 courses and provided training to 75,000 unemployed, three-quarters of whom are women. The Committee notes this information and requests further details on what proportion of these participants subsequently obtained jobs, if such information is available.

4. The Government also describes its labour force adjustment project, which aims to facilitate the privatization of public enterprises. This project includes counselling, education and placement services for workers who lose their jobs, as well as providing work in public utilities and other infrastructure projects. On the other hand, TURK-IS again states that the Government's policies have resulted in mass redundancies in both the public and private sectors, without effective adjustment policies. The Committee requests further information on the effectiveness of this project.

5. The Committee also notes that the Government reaffirms its commitment to reducing the informal sector, and has introduced an educational campaign on employer payment of contribution for various forms of insurance for workers, and flexible measures to improve payment. For their part, TISK and TURK-IS again emphasize the need to reduce the growth of the informal sector. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on the effect of this campaign in reducing the informal sector.

6. Article 3 of the Convention. In reply to the Committee's previous request for further information on tripartite consultations, the Government states that the tripartite Economic and Social Council met 16 times between 1946 and 1972, and annually since 1972. In addition, local councils meet on request of the Prefect, more often in the more active local labour markets. TURK-IS repeats its allegation that there is no consultation with workers' organizations to implement Convention No. 122. The Committee once again requests information on the consultations actually held, including the specific workers' organizations included, the opinions received, and how these views were incorporated into employment policies and programmes.