CMNT_TITLE

1. The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending in June 1998. It notes the two major objectives of the Government's programme, namely to maintain a limited number of unemployed so as to avoid any social dysfunction and to create incentives for employers to stimulate employment. According to the information supplied in the Government's report, unemployment stands at 8 per cent (1998). The Committee recalls that the essential goal of the Convention is to declare and pursue an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment (Article 1 of the Convention). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would state, as requested in the report form, whether special difficulties have been encountered in attaining these objectives and those of the Government's programme, and to indicate how far such difficulties have been overcome. The Committee requests that the Government also indicate the way in which decisions taken on general economic policy are guaranteed to make an effective contribution to the pursuit of the aims of the Convention (Article 2).

2. The Committee notes that, as a result of the economic reform process, a short-term programme of social protection measures has been established for workers laid off as a result of restructuring and privatization. It trusts that in its next report the Government will indicate the results obtained by the measures designed to find lasting employment for workers affected by structural changes. The Committee asks that the Government continue to provide information on the situation, level and trends of employment as they affect other disadvantaged groups of workers such as women, young people and the long-term unemployed, and in general on employment trends in the various "judets" and in Bucharest.

3. The Government states in its report that advantages are granted to small and medium-sized enterprises applying for loans with a view to creating new jobs for the unemployed. The Committee recalls that in June 1998 the Conference adopted the Job Creation in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Recommendation (No. 189). The Government may find it useful to consult its provisions as a source of guidance for action.

4. The Committee notes the Government's statement that technical and vocational training constitutes a national interest priority and is ensured by law. It asks the Government in its next report to continue to address issues related to the coordination of education and training policies with employment policy, as an essential means of enabling all workers to acquire the necessary skills to obtain suitable employment in which they can make the best use of their skills and capabilities.

5. Article 3. The Committee notes that a National Agency for Employment and Vocational Training, established by Act No. 143/1998, will be operational as from 1 January 1999. It also notes that the agency will be managed by a governing board made up of an equal number of representatives of employers' and workers' organizations. The Committee refers to its comments of this year and of the past several years on the application of the Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88). It hopes that the Government will be in a position to provide information in its next report on the measures taken within the governing board of the agency concerning consultations on employment policy. The Committee recalls once again that the consultations required under Article 3 of the Convention should not be confined to labour market policy management but should cover all aspects of economic and social policy which have a bearing on employment.