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1. The Committee notes the useful information contained in the Government's report and its reply to the previous direct request. The recent growth rates of employment and labour force participation are about equal and the standardized unemployment rate for 1998 was 4.7 per cent. It notes with particular interest the Government's success in the youth training and apprenticeship programme and the consequent low level of youth unemployment.

2. The Committee notes that there has been a recent increase in long-term unemployment, mainly among low-skilled and older workers. It would appreciate receiving further information in the Government's next report on the measures taken or envisaged to address this trend. The Committee also notes the high proportion of women in part-time employment. In its report, the Government states that it intends to create new jobs in the day care sector with the intention of simultaneously reducing unemployment and enabling women to participate more in full-time employment. Furthermore, the Government has set aside more than the proportionate number of places for women on its "catch-all net for young people" (Auffangnetz für Jugendliche) expanded youth training programmes to ensure an increase in the number of women receiving training. The Committee requests further information in the Government's next report on the impact of these programmes in reducing the proportion of part-time work which is involuntary. It also asks the Government to continue to supply information on labour market trends for low-skilled workers, older workers, and female part-time workers, in accordance with the information requested in the report form under Article 1 of the Convention, concerning trends of unemployment and underemployment as they affect particular categories of workers.