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1. The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending in May 2004. The Government indicates that the strong employment growth during the period, in both urban and rural areas, where it has been a result of favourable climatic conditions, has not been sufficient to absorb the increase in the active population, particularly in view of the rapid rise in the participation rate of women. In the first quarter of 2004, the unemployment rate reached 12.5 per cent, compared with 11.6 per cent in 2002, and 19.8 per cent in urban areas. The rise in unemployment has principally affected women, whose unemployment rate is 14.2 per cent, and 28.4 per cent in urban areas.

2. Labour market policy measures. The Committee notes the description of the various measures to promote the integration of jobseekers and to support self-employment. It requests the Government to provide all available data on the number of beneficiaries of these measures and on the results achieved. Also with reference to its comments on the application of Convention No. 111, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on any specific measures adopted or envisaged to promote the vocational training and employment of women. Please also provide information on the employment impact of national promotional public works programmes.

3. Employment of young graduates. The Committee notes that there has been a significant rise in unemployment among young graduates, with the unemployment rate of higher education graduates reaching 60.3 per cent in 2001 for those aged between 15 and 24 years and 45.2 per cent for those between 25 and 34 years of age, which are well above the rates for all young persons in the same age categories, which were 18.9 per cent and 19.2 per cent, respectively. It notes that the Department of Vocational Training has established employment integration measures for them, assistance measures for young entrepreneurs and support for self-employment. It requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the results achieved by the measures intended to secure permanent employment for young graduates.

4. Overall and sectoral economic policies. The Committee recalls its interest in information on the manner in which the principal economic policy objectives, in such fields as fiscal and monetary policies, trade policy and regional development policies, contribute "within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy" to the achievement of the employment objectives set out in the Convention. It requests the Government to indicate the employment objectives of the new Economic and Social Development Plan.

5. Consultation of the representatives of the persons affected (Article 3 of the Convention). With reference to its previous requests, the Committee once again asks the Government to provide examples of the consultations held concerning employment policy within the meaning of the Convention, with an indication of the opinions expressed and the manner in which they were taken into account. The Committee notes in this respect that the Higher Council and the regional councils for employment promotion established by the Labour Code have to prepare an annual report setting out their views and proposals. It requests the Government to provide any relevant extract from such reports. Please also indicate whether measures have been taken or are envisaged to associate representatives of the persons affected in the rural sector and the informal economy with the consultations on employment policy.