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1.  The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s brief first and second reports. The Committee notes in particular the difficult economic and financial conditions, which substantially limit the Government’s ability to carry out its policies and programmes.

2.  Article 1, paragraph 2(a), of the Convention.  The Committee notes the objectives of the Government’s employment policy, as well as the specific programmes contained in the Employment Programme (1998-2000). The Government explains that due to the economic and financial crisis, many of the active labour market measures have not been realized or completed. In particular, public works programmes, which are a key component of the social safety net and employment strategy for the long-term unemployed, are substantially underfunded. The Committee would appreciate being kept informed of progress made in obtaining funding for employment policies and programmes, in particular of government expenditures on active labour market policies and training.

3.  The Committee also notes that the Government states only in very general terms that it is undertaking active labour market policies. The Committee asks the Government to provide more detailed information on specific policies and programmes, the number of participants, and outcomes. The Government also states that several legislative changes are under way, pertaining to labour inspection and the establishment of an unemployment fund and a national employment and training agency. Please send copies of these laws when they are enacted, as well as information on their impact, when available.

4.  The Government states that unemployment was 2.8 per cent in 1999. The Committee notes from the information sent by the Multidisciplinary Team for Central and Eastern Europe, in Budapest (ILO-CEET), that the size of the labour force has fallen by a rate of about 15.3 per cent per annum between 1993 and 1999. The quarterly labour force survey puts unemployment at 7.8 per cent for the second quarter of 2000, and the unemployment-to-(entire) population ratio was approximately 37 per cent. The Committee asks the Government to supply further information on action taken to reverse these trends.

5.  Article 1, paragraph 2(c).  The Committee notes that hiring quotas for the disabled have been established. The Government is also considering a project to maintain and increase the employment of socially vulnerable groups such as youth, women, disabled workers, and older workers, by providing financing for entrepreneurs. There is no mention in the Government’s report of legal guarantees of equal access to training, placement services and employment, and no legislation specifically prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin. The Committee requests further information on the steps taken to ensure equal access of all to education, training, placement services and employment. It refers in this respect to its comments made in 1999 under the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111).

6.  Article 2.  The Committee notes that the Government’s reports do not contain any information on how policies and programmes are kept under review within the framework of coordinated economic and social policies. Please supply information on the review process, as well as on which ministries are involved in the Employment Programme and how their efforts are coordinated. Please also provide information from the labour force quarterly surveys, and explain how this information is used in reviewing policies and programmes. The Committee also notes that the ILO Statistics Bureau has been working with the Government to develop the collection and analysis of labour market information, and the ILO is implementing an enterprise flexibility survey in the Republic of Moldova. Please provide further information on how the outcome of these projects will be taken into account in the review process.

7.  Article 3.  The Committee notes the Government’s statement that efficient social dialogue does not yet exist. However, a draft law concerning the National Employment and Training Agency, which would establish tripartite consultation, is to be presented to the Government by the end of this year. The Committee also notes that the National Confederation of Employers of the Republic of Moldova states that consultations are limited, and has communicated to ILO-CEET that it considers involvement of the social partners in labour market policy formulation to be important. Please provide further information on whether the draft law has been adopted, and whether the tripartite consultations will include consultations on policy formulation, as well as on implementation. Please also provide information on how rural and informal sector workers are consulted, as requested in the report form adopted by the Governing Body.