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Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of education and training policies closely linked with employment. The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending in June 2008, including detailed information in reply to the 2004 direct request, as well as other documentation sent in November 2008. The Government indicates that training policies take into account the effective needs of the labour market and it lists various programmes on quick vocational training, transitional training, and training for small enterprises. It states that the Ministry of Manpower and Migration was entrusted with the formulation and development of vocational guidance and training policies and programmes through the High Council for Human Resources Development established by Order No. 229 of 26 August 2003. The Committee further notes that the Sixth Five-year Plan for Social and Economic Development (2007–12) aims at raising training levels and implementing national training programmes for graduates through training centre modernization, and providing vocational training for non-technical unemployed workers through advanced training programmes. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report information illustrating the way in which the different measures implemented and the action taken by the High Council for Human Resources Development have contributed to promote access to education, training, and lifelong learning. In this respect, the Committee refers to Article 1(1) of the Convention and recalls the close link to be established between the policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training and employment, in particular through public employment services. It therefore invites the Government to report on measures taken or envisaged to upgrade employment offices in order to bridge the gap between demand and supply of skills.

Vocational guidance. The Government reports that the Vocational Training Department at the Ministry of Manpower organizes vocational guidance activities and provides services in order to promote vocational training. A system of vocational guidance has been implemented to help adults choose the right occupation in accordance with their capacities. Other activities and programmes have been organized to help evaluate the capacities of young persons and adults to identify the type of training needed to develop their skills and capacities in a suitable occupation. The Committee also notes that Ain Shams University, the ILO and the European Union cooperate with the Government in this field. The Committee invites the Government to provide data on the impact of measures taken to raise awareness of the benefits of training including information on the involvement of the social partners in the design and delivery of training and vocational guidance programmes (Article 3(1)). The Government is also invited to complete its next report with a description and specimens of available documentation for vocational guidance and the manner in which such information is kept up to date (Article 3(2) and (3)).

Youth employment and training. The Committee notes that the unemployment rate increased from 8.95 per cent in 1996 to 9.72 per cent in 2006 affecting mainly young persons, aged 15–29 years, and new entrants to the labour market. In its report, the Government mentions measures to train young persons to create small businesses. The Committee asks the Government to include in its next report information on the results achieved with regard to vocational training and vocational guidance through the measures taken to promote youth employment, particularly regarding young persons with few or no qualifications and those living in rural areas.

Women in employment and training. The Government indicates in its report that all training programmes promote the education and training of women without any discrimination. The Committee asks the Government to include in its next report detailed information on the active measures taken to ensure progress in the participation of women in the labour market, including an evaluation of the impact in terms of jobs occupied by women prior to, and following, their education and their participation in various training programmes.

Article 5. Cooperation of employers’ and workers’ organizations. In reply to the previous direct request, the Government refers to section 7 of Order No. 229 of 2003 by which the High Council for Human Resources Development will establish local councils for the development of human resources. The Committee invites the Government to specify how the social partners cooperate in the fields covered by the Convention through the High Council for Human Resources Development, both at the national and local levels. In particular, the Committee would welcome receiving information on how a national strategy for education and training was defined with the involvement of the social partners. It would also welcome receiving information on a guiding framework for training policies at the national, regional, local, sectoral and enterprise levels, including measures such as encouraging firms to provide training to their employees.