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The Committee notes the information and statistical data provided in the Government’s report for the period ending in May 2004. The Committee notes in particular the adoption of new legislative texts in order to apply the Convention. It requests the Government to continue reporting on the measures adopted by the public employment services to achieve the best organization possible of the employment market and to ensure the full cooperation of employers’ and workers’ representatives in its organization and operation (Articles 1, 4 and 5 of the Convention). Please also continue to provide statistical information concerning the number of public employment offices established, the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified, and the number of persons placed in employment by such offices (Part IV of the report form). The Committee invites the Government to provide further information on the following points.

1. Reorganization of the employment offices network. The Committee notes that Decision No. 149 of the Cabinet of Ministers of November 2003 established a new structure for the network of employment offices, with a view to improving the measures provided for by the State Programme on Poverty Reduction and Social Development. The Committee asks the Government to provide information in respect of the reorganization of the network of employment offices and the measures adopted to ensure a sufficient number of employment offices to meet the needs of employers and workers in each of the geographical areas (Article 3).

2. Measures for particular categories of applicants for employment. The Government indicates that labour exchange offices will be established in the industrial cities of Ganja and Mingachevir, with a view to providing temporary employment for particular categories of applicants, such as people with disabilities, older workers, women and young people. The Committee further notes that the labour exchange offices in Baku and Sumgait expanded their activities in 2003 (Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Progress Report of October 2004). The Government also indicates that "labour fairs", which aim at providing employment, in particular for young people, have regularly been held since 1997, and have helped thousands of jobseekers to find work according to their specialities and professions. The Committee asks the Government to keep it informed of the progress made concerning the establishment of new labour exchange offices (Article 7).