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The Committee notes the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its 2002 direct request, which read as follows.

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. The Government states that it has undergone an economic crisis since 1998 when the CFA franc was devalued. It is currently participating in the World Bank and IMF programme for debt reduction package under the Enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. It is using some debt relief funds for social programmes, including hiring 2,500 primary-school teachers. The Government aims to make the labour market more transparent by improving training and placement services. Employment promotion programmes include internships in enterprises for youth diploma, rural development, vocational orientation, internships for adapting to working life, job placement for teachers, small enterprise development and establishing a national policy and regulating microcredit. The report of the National Employment Fund provides information on the number of participants in select programmes and their employment outcomes. The Government states that most programmes are still being finalized. The Committee notes this information and would appreciate receiving updates in the next Government report on progress made in implementing employment promotion programmes and on their impact.

2. Unemployment reached 21.7 per cent in urban areas, with as much as 31 per cent in Douala and 24 per cent in Yaoundé. In rural areas the rate is about 4 per cent, due to the prevalence of self-employment. The Government states that it does not have detailed labour market statistics but plans to undertake a census. It has created a National Observatory for Employment and Vocational Training, which is responsible for collecting labour market information. The Committee notes this information and would appreciate receiving further information on the outcome of the census and the ongoing work of the National Observatory. Please also provide further information on how the measures adopted are decided on and kept under review within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy.

3. Article 3. The Committee notes that the Government has established a tripartite inter-ministerial committee for employment policy for the private sector and is formulating employment promotion programmes in consultation with the social partners. Please indicate the manner in which the representatives of the persons affected are consulted concerning employment policies envisaged or implemented under the poverty reduction strategy paper. Please also provide further information on whether consultations on employment policy are held with rural and informal sector workers.