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The Committee notes the Government’s detailed report received in March 2010, in reply to its 2007 observation. The Committee also appreciates the ongoing contribution of information and views by the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK–İŞ) and the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİŞK) on the application of the Convention. The Government indicates that workers’ and employers’ organizations are represented within the unified provincial employment and vocational training boards. Unified boards have important functions which include defining provincial employment and vocational training policies and promoting employment by matching training with employment needs. TİŞK adds that workers’ and employers’ organizations are also represented within the supervisory board which is responsible for monitoring the activities of the boards. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the active cooperation of employers’ and workers’ representatives in the organization and operation of the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) and in the development of employment service policy (Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention).

Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes that, according to the statistics provided by the Government, 1,095,105 unemployed persons were registered at the İŞKUR in 2008, and 1,389,901 as of April 2009. 740,797 employers made use of İŞKUR’s services in 2008 and 209,846 as of April 2009. The Government indicates that İŞKUR is collaborating with social partners to create a system for collecting labour market data. The Government also indicates that recently İŞKUR has been running extensive projects with support from either the European Union or the World Bank. In this regard, TİŞK indicates that the Institutional Transformation Project launched at the end of 2007 was aimed at enhancing the effectiveness and quality of services provided by the institution. As a result of this project, all İŞKUR services were opened to external users. The Committee recalls that the objective of the project for an active employment programme, phase II included the increased visibility of İŞKUR as a service provider and enhanced İŞKUR’s capacity to implement labour market measures for women and young people. The Committee notes TİŞK’s information which indicates that İŞKUR envisages employment promotion through job-guarantee courses and trainings for the unemployed. The Committee invites the Government to continue to supply relevant information, including statistics, on the impact of the activities undertaken by İŞKUR on matching jobseekers and employers.

Article 9. Status and training of employment service staff. The Government indicates that İŞKUR staff is composed of public officials who are recruited in accordance with the respective regulations. TİŞK comments that it would be appropriate for the Government to provide information concerning the training and qualifications of İŞKUR staff and the expenditure incurred in enabling employees to attend training courses. The Committee invites the Government to include information on the training of IŞKUR staff and the results of efforts it has taken to improve financing and access to staff training.

Article 11. Cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies. TİŞK indicates that the legislation in force grants private employment agencies the possibility to operate in the labour market in addition to İŞKUR, the aim being to broaden job placement opportunities and to meet the steadily growing need for employment flexibility. The Government indicates that as a result of legislative amendments, non-Turkish nationals are also entitled to start private employment agencies. Moreover, new regulations on private employment agencies were enacted in 2008, which, inter alia, authorized private employment agencies to provide labour market, employment and human resource services in addition to placement services. These developments have increased and enhanced labour market services. The Committee invites the Government to include information on measures taken to secure effective cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies.