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1. Articles 1, paragraph 2, and 10 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention, received in September 2006. It notes that 13 employment information centres are operating in the country, including one employment service main office. Proposals to review the structure of the employment service are to be discussed in the Annual Management Committee of the Employment Service in May each year. The Committee welcomes continuing to receive information on the activities of the public employment service which contribute to the achievement and maintenance of full employment and the development and use of productive resources together with relevant statistics. Please also indicate any arrangements made in cooperation with the social partners to encourage full use of employment service facilities.

2. Articles 4 and 5. Participation of social partners. The Committee notes that the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment had set up an Employment Advisory Committee in 2004, comprised, amongst others, of representatives of employers and workers. The mandate of the Advisory Committee was to gauge the employment situation and to work out recommendations for the creation of jobs. The Government reports that the Advisory Committee established in 2004 is no longer operational. The Ministry is now proposing to create a new Employment Promotion and Advisory Committee which will be comprised of representatives of workers and employers to advise on new strategies and policies for job creation and employment promotion. The Committee would like to receive further information regarding the development of this initiative in order to ensure the cooperation of the social partners not only in the organization and operation of the employment service but also in the development of employment service policy.

3. Article 11. Cooperation with private employment agencies. The Committee notes that private employment agencies (PrEA) are legally obliged by the Recruitment of Workers Act 1993 to inform the Ministry on vacancies and persons placed. The PrEA may charge fees in accordance with the regulation framed under the said Act. The Committee would welcome further particulars, including practical examples, on the effective cooperation established between the public employment service and PrEA. It invites the Government to consider the provisions of the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), and the Private Employment Agencies Recommendation, 1997 (No. 188), which contain guidelines for the regulation, monitoring and operation of private employment services.