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1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Employment trends and active labour market measures. The Committee notes the Government’s detailed report received in November 2007 including replies to the 2005 direct request. The Government indicates that high development rates in recent years (namely, a growth in GDP of 3.7 per cent in 2005, 4.3 per cent in 2006 and 3.7 per cent in 2007) were not accompanied by a corresponding reduction in unemployment rates. In 2005, the unemployment rate fell, compared with that of 2004, and reached 9.8 per cent, while women’s unemployment rate reached 15.3 per cent, which is more than double the relevant men’s rate of 6.1 per cent. In 2006, the unemployment rate fell to 8.9 per cent, while both women’s and men’s unemployment rates showed a decrease and reached 13.6 per cent and 5.6 per cent, respectively. Over the same period, the employment rate has steadily increased, from 59.4 per cent in 2004 to 60.1 per cent in 2005 and 61 per cent in 2006, and the Government estimates that the employment rate should reach 64.1 per cent in 2010. In programmes designed to increase employment and reduce unemployment implemented by the Greek Manpower Employment Organization (OAED), priority is given to places to be covered by women. In the year 2005 and in the first quarter of 2006, 35,000 women benefited from national programmes and 1,500 participated in an integrated intervention which includes counselling to enter the job market or to start a business activity. The Committee further notes that the Government has passed a number of active measures to increase employment and flexibility. For example, by strengthening the institutional framework for flexible forms of employment and by passing an Act respecting working time arrangement (Act No. 3385/2005), changes will be brought about in the labour market for the benefit of both businesses and the labour force. Moreover, the Government indicates that it is in consultation with the social partners concerning the modernization of the labour law, with a view to meeting the developmental challenges of flexible forms of employment. The Committee also notes the Act on Investments No. 3522/2006, which entered into force early in 2007, which readjusts support rates on the basis of the new Regional Support Map and increases incentives to encourage private investments. The Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on the measures taken to generate sustainable employment and improve employment security for workers. It also asks the Government to provide information on the measures envisaged to increase the employment rate of women, the effects of national programmes targeting women and the effects of the Act on Investments No. 3522/2006 on job creation. The Committee would also appreciate continuing to receive information on the experience of the social partners with regard to the application of the Convention.

2. Means to promote employment of young people, older workers and workers with disabilities. The Government indicates that the youth unemployment rate fell between 2005 and 2006 but still remains high, 26 per cent and 25.2 per cent, respectively. OAED special programmes target young unemployed persons through the acquisition of work experience as well as with self-employment programmes. Also, Act No. 3227/2004 provides incentives to employers hiring unemployed young persons of up to 25 years of age. Tackling high youth unemployment is one of the policy areas in the National Reform Programme that needs to be addressed with the highest priority. As for older workers, the Committee notes that the Government has started to put more emphasis on active policies to address this category of persons, such as flexible pension schemes, lifelong learning aimed at improving skills of older persons and promotion of self-employment. The Committee also notes that the registration of persons with disabilities is being initiated for the first time by the National Observatory for People with Disabilities and that special analytical educational programmes and programmes to enhance the skills of persons with disabilities are being implemented. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on how the measures taken translate into productive and lasting employment opportunities for young people, older workers and workers with disabilities.

3. Educational and training policies. The Government indicates that the main policy priorities with regard to education and vocational training are as follows: qualitative upgrading and improvement of education and training systems; helping facilitate access to education and training systems; and increase in investment in human capital by means of improving education and upgrading skills. Increasing investments in human capital by modernizing education and training systems is provided by the Act on Lifelong Learning (Act No. 3369/2005). The Committee also notes that the social partners and other stakeholders participate in the National Lifelong Learning Committee. The Government further indicates that, in 2006, 75 counselling and guidance centres (KEYSP) and 570 counselling and vocational guidance offices (GRASEP) were operational and more than 500,000 persons benefited from their services. As for vocational training, the Committee notes that between 2000 and 2006, more than 130,000 unemployed persons and 95,000 workers acquired vocational training. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide details on the number of persons participating in educational and training programmes and the impact of these programmes on productive and lasting employment opportunities, particularly for young people and other categories of vulnerable workers.