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The Committee takes note of a letter received on 19 October 2005, which contains the Government’s general report on a number of ratified Conventions. The Committee notes that certain legal developments relevant to the application of this Convention have taken place in recent years. It notes in particular the adoption of Act No. 21 of 22 April 2003 on basic vocational education and training, which establishes a system of basic vocational education (structures, programmes, types of educational institutions) and education for several categories of persons in need of special protection (disabled, orphans). It further notes the adoption of Act No. 34 of 17 May 2004 on education, which establishes the structure of the educational system and contains provisions on vocational and specialized education.

1. Article 1, paragraphs 1 to 4, of the Convention. Close link with employment. In order to evaluate the application of the Convention, the Committee has considered it necessary to refer to the Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (Second Progress Report), which indicates that despite the oversupply of job vacancies on the labour market, a large number of these were left unfilled because individuals lacked the necessary skills. In this respect, the Government adopted a concept paper on vocational training reforms and national standards. Likewise, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection is in the process of implementing a vocational training reform project. The Committee asks the Government to indicate what progress has been made in the implementation of vocational training reforms in order to ensure that the skills of workers match actual labour market demands.

2. Article 5. Cooperation of employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee asks the Government to describe the measures adopted to ensure the cooperation of employer’s and workers’ organizations and, where applicable, other interested bodies in the formulation and implementation of vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes. Please provide detailed information on any consultative machinery which may have been instituted for this purpose.

3. Observing the fact that no detailed report has been transmitted to the ILO since the ratification of the Convention in 1993, the Committee recalls the importance of first reports since they constitute the basis upon which the Committee makes its initial assessment of the observance of ratified Conventions. It therefore asks the Government to make a special effort to supply a report indicating, in detail, for each Article of the Convention, the legislation and other measures under which each provision is applied. In this regard, noting the request of the Government for technical assistance, the Committee trusts that such assistance from the Office will help the Government in meeting its reporting obligations regarding this Convention.