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The Committee notes the report submitted by the Government for the period ending May 2002.

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. The Government indicates that the Labour Department has recently been restructured to comply with international standards regarding labour issues. It considers that the new organizational structure will enhance its capacity to comply with the provisions of the Convention. The restructured Labour Department has undertaken the development of a job bank and the compilation of labour market data. The Government explains that policies and programmes to promote the employment of women, disabled workers, older workers and young people are contemplated within the revised structure of the Labour Department but their implementation has been delayed due to the need for additional personnel and adequate financial resources. In a separate document, the Government includes employment statistics by age and gender. The Committee notes this information and requests that the Government provide, in its next report, further information on the progress made in this respect including any details on the eventual difficulties encountered in the implementation of the planned programmes and policies. Please also continue to provide information on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment in Aruba.

2. Article 3. The Committee notes the information concerning the dissolution of the Tripartite Employment Committee and its partial replacement by the Labour Ordinance Committee (COL). The COL, which includes government, worker and employer representatives, is charged with formulating recommendations on the provisions of the labour ordinance and advising the Labour Department on work regulations. The Government, however, notes that the COL has not held meetings since June 2001 due to lack of financial resources. The Committee recalls that, under this provision of the Convention, the representatives of employers and workers must be consulted concerning employment policies "with a view to taking fully into account their experience and views and securing their full cooperation in formulating and enlisting support for such policies". It would be grateful if the Government would develop these relationships and would supply in its next report a copy of texts relating to the duties, composition and operation of the COL. Please indicate the manner in which the representatives of all the persons affected, including representatives of those working in the rural sector and the informal economy, are consulted concerning employment policies as required by this provision of the Convention.