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1. The Committee notes the Government’s reports received in September 2001 and August 2002, as well as the statistics appended to the Government’s last report. The Committee notes that Government Agreement No. 872/2000 of 28 December 2000, is intended to modernize the organization of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance through the establishment of the General Directorate of Vocational Training and Employment (DICAFORE). The Government recognizes that the prolonged economic crisis has resulted in high levels of open unemployment and underemployment and a significant reduction in the real income of workers. The Government proposes to develop an employment and income-generation strategy in agribusiness, industry and services, based on approaches that are appropriate to the rural environment and the conservation of natural resources. The Government also refers to radio programmes entitled "Tiempo para el empleo" (Time for employment), the planning of an employment and labour market monitoring mechanism and the establishment of four employment kiosks, without providing precise information on the scope of the programmes to be carried out, the impact of the workshops held or the manner in which the statistics compiled have been used for the preparation of employment promotion measures. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide with its next report copies of reports, studies and enquiries, as well as statistical data, to enable the Committee to evaluate the nature, extent and trends of unemployment and underemployment, as well as the impact of the Government’s economic and social policies on employment (Part VI of the report form). Please also indicate the employment policy measures which have been formulated and implemented in Government plans (Article 1 of the Convention). In particular, the Committee asks the Government to indicate to what extent the measures to promote economic development or other economic and social objectives have been based on a consideration of their impact on the labour market (Article 2).

2. Please describe the activities undertaken by DICAFORE in the fields of human resources development, vocational training and the official certification of occupational skills. Please indicate the extent to which the objectives of education and vocational training policies have been coordinated with employment opportunities.

3. The Committee requests that the Government provide information in its next report on employment trends in the export processing and coffee sectors, and on the measures that have been adopted to reintegrate men and women workers who have been affected by job losses in the above sectors back into the labour market.

4. Article 3. The Government indicates in the report received in August 2002 that Employment Councils have been established as advisory bodies under the Ministry of Labour and are responsible for reaching decisions of a technical and policy nature in relation to employment. They are composed of representatives of employers and workers and are active throughout the national territory. The Committee recalls that the consultations required by the Convention must cover the measures to be taken in relation to employment policy with a view to taking fully into account the experience and views of those consulted and securing their full cooperation in formulating and enlisting support for the implementation of such measures. The consultations with the representatives of the persons affected should include, in particular, the representatives of employers and workers, as well as representatives of other categories of the active population, such as persons working in the rural sector and the informal sector. The Committee trusts that the Government will include with its next report examples of the recommendations made by Employment Councils in relation to the consultations required by this important provision of the Convention.

5. Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the assistance received in the context of the project for the modernization of labour administrations in Central America (MATAC), which promoted an exchange of experience between public employment services in the region. The Committee requests that the Government also include information in its next report on the action taken as a result of the technical assistance received from the ILO in the field of employment policy.