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1. Measures to combat unemployment. In reply to the Committee’s previous direct request, the Government refers to the adoption of the Economic Recovery Strategy for Wealth and Employment Creation (ERSWEC) which recognizes employment as an important means of empowering human capital and achieving national development objectives. Employment has been made an overarching goal of macroeconomic and sectoral policies with a view to ensuring expansion and productive employment. The Committee recalls the final remarks of its 2004 General Survey on promoting employment (see paragraph 490) and encourages governments, in consultation with the social partners, to ensure that the competent authorities responsible of other policy areas are aware of their obligation to consider employment objectives when formulating economic and social policies. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the results achieved under the ERSWEC to combat unemployment (Article 1 of the Convention).

2. Coordination between employment services. In its report, the Government indicates that there are a few private employment agencies, the majority of which are fee-charging. A new section of the revised labour laws is aimed at coordinating the operation of employment agencies and protecting jobseekers from exploitation. The Committee would appreciate examining the new legislative provisions that ensure the coordination of the operations of employment services (Article 2). The Government might consider it useful in this respect to refer to the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), and Private Employment Agencies Recommendation, 1997 (No. 188), adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 85th Session (June 1997).