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1. Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in June 2007 containing general information on changes in employment and on labour market policies. The Committee refers back to its 2005 observation, in which it indicated that the implementation of recommendations made by the ILO, following the study concerning the reform of the National Employment Agency in the Algerian intermediary system on the labour market (December 2003) and the national consultation on the theme of “Freedom from poverty through work”, held in October 2003, should encourage the pursuit of the objectives of the Convention. In this regard, the Committee asked the Government to provide detailed information on the measures taken to implement an active employment policy within the meaning of Article 1 of the Convention subsequent to the assistance received from the ILO. The Committee notes, however, that apart from some supplementary indications in response to the Committee’s 2005 observation, requested in July 2007, the Government has not provided any other information.

2. In its report, the Government states that the economic reform process which was begun in the country in the midst of a difficult socio-economic climate, has generated a labour market imbalance characterized by an increase in unemployment. 1,240,800 people were unemployed in 2006, 70 per cent of which were under 30 years of age and 60 per cent of which had never worked. The main aim of the national employment policy is to reduce the unemployment rate to less than 10 per cent by 2009, in particular by creating 2 million jobs between now and then. In order to achieve this objective, the Government envisages the launch of a number of major projects requiring a considerable workforce, the adjustment of the workforce to the needs of the labour market through training, the regulation of labour supply and demand through the National Employment Agency (ANPE), and support for youth employment. The economic recovery plan and public and private investments already allowed for the creation of 684,000 jobs in 2005.

3. The Committee once again expresses its concern regarding the effective pursuit of “an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment”, “as a major goal” and “within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy” (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention). The Committee regrets that the Government has not provided the information requested in the report form on the manner in which the consultation of representatives of the persons affected, required under Article 3 of the Convention, is ensured in practice. It can only insist once again on the importance of giving full effect to this key provision of the Convention, in particular in an environment of very high and persistent unemployment.

4. The Committee asks the Government to provide detailed information so as to enable it to examine how the guiding principles of economic policy in areas such as monetary, budgetary, trade and regional development policy, contribute “within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy” to the pursuance of the employment objectives established by the Convention. The Committee trusts that the Government will provide information on the measures adopted to lower the unemployment rate and the results achieved by the measures taken in the public and private sectors to promote productive employment, particularly of young people.

5. Labour market policies in favour of workers with disabilities. In its report, the Government states that regulatory provisions make it compulsory for employers to reserve a quota of 1 per cent of posts for workers with disabilities. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the impact in practice of the measures taken to increase the level of participation of workers with disabilities in the labour market and to ensure that such workers are engaged in productive and lasting employment.

6. Collection and use of employment data. Further to its previous comments, the Committee asks the Government once again to provide an account of the progress made to improve the labour market information system and to provide detailed statistics on the situation and trends in employment, specifying the manner in which the collected data has been used to determine and review employment policy measures.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2008.]