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1. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes with interest the detailed and comprehensive information contained in the Government’s report, received in September 2006, in response to the Committee’s 2005 direct request. The Government reports that, in 2000–05, labour exchanges led to the employment of 734,600 jobseekers, provided intermediation services in obtaining business licences for 84,900 unemployed persons, and involved 296,400 jobseekers in labour club activities. For the same period, 727,900 persons were involved in active labour market programmes –including 130,100 unemployed persons and persons that had received warnings of dismissal in professional development programmes, and 481,900 persons into employment support programmes.

2. The Government reports that the following five projects, financed by the European Social Fund, were prepared in 2004 and implemented in 2005: Development of Vocational Training of Unemployed Persons and Persons that have received Warnings of Dismissal; Support for Employment of the Unemployed; Labour Market Integration of Persons with Disabilities to Prevent Social Exclusion; Implementation of the Active Labour Market Policy Measures for Convicts and Persons Released from Imprisonment; and Building of Administrative Capacities at the National Labour Exchange. In this regard, the Committee notes the Government’s report that such projects have enabled the referral of an additional 10,700 unemployed persons to the active labour market programmes. The Committee welcomes continuing to receive information on the activities of the National Labour Exchange, including such activities undertaken to address the specific needs of particular persons. Similarly, the Committee wishes to be kept informed of activities under technical cooperation projects aimed at improving access of jobseekers to employment.

3. Article 3 of the Convention. Development of employment offices throughout the territory. The Committee notes that the National Labour Exchange is supported by 46 local (city and district) labour exchanges. The Government reports that the matter of establishing a regional level in the National Labour Exchange, or county labour exchanges, is under discussion, and if a regional level to the labour market institutions is formed, part of the functions performed by the national-level institution – namely, the National Labour Exchange, could be delegated to that level, creating conditions for the decentralization of labour market management. The Committee would welcome being informed of the outcome of consideration on the feasibility of the establishment of regional-level labour exchanges, and of the provision made for the review, where necessary, of the network of employment offices to meet the changing requirements of the economy and the working population.

4. Article 4. Participation of social partners. The Committee takes note of the information provided on the form and functions of the tripartite council established under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour. The Committee also notes that tripartite commissions are formed under the National Labour Exchange and the local labour exchanges for the consideration of issues related to the situation in the labour market and the implementation of labour market policy measures and services. The Committee would welcome continuing to receive information on arrangements made through the tripartite council and commissions for the cooperation of employers’ and workers’ representatives in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy, including information on the outcomes and recommendations made by such bodies.