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The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It refers to its previous comments and it hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous direct request. It notes the positive effect of the measures taken to promote the employment of young persons and the disabled. The statistics provided show a slight increase in the number of registered employees (33,820 in June 1988 in comparison with 33,007 in June 1987), although the number of registered unemployed also increased during this period. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would, in future reports, continue supplying information on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment, as requested in the second question of the report form under Article 1 of the Convention. Please also refer to Part IV of the report form.

2. The Committee notes the effect of the measures taken within the framework of the temporary employment scheme introduced in 1986 and observes, in particular, that only a few of the workers recruited in 1987 were employed following their contracts (of from three to six months). It notes with interest that, alongside these "social" measures to combat unemployment "economic" measures were adopted in 1988. It would be grateful if the Government would supply information on the development and impact of these measures.

3. The Committee notes from the Government's report that women form the majority of job-seekers up to the age of 25, but that there is no specific provision to promote their employment. Please indicate whether measures have been taken or are envisaged to promote the employment of this specific category of the active population.

4. The Committee notes that the balance between the supply and demand of labour and the reduction of the imbalance between Nouméa and the interior and the islands depends on the creation of centres of activity. It requests the Government to describe, in future reports, the general and selective measures that are taken in the context of balanced regional development policies and labour market policies, intended to balance the supply and demand of labour both on the vocational and geographical levels.

5. With reference to its previous comments, concerning the question of the co-ordination of education and training policies with employment prospects, the Committee refers to its comments on the application of Convention No. 142.