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1. The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending June 1992 and the information supplied in reply to its previous direct request. It notes the significant increase in the unemployment rate, which rose from 9.6 per cent in 1990 to over 11 per cent in 1992, despite a sustained growth in economic activity. The Committee notes that the arrival of new immigrants during the period contributed both to the increase in employment and the rise in unemployment. The Government notes a slowing down of immigration at the end of the period, and a lowering of the unemployment rate among the new immigrants, illustrating their progressive integration into the labour market. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply detailed information on the measures which are taken to encourage the integration of the new arrivals into employment.

2. The Government states that, up to June 1992, its employment policy continued to be based partly on the adoption of measures to seek greater flexibility in the labour market through a reduction in the cost of labour for employers, the introduction of more restrictive conditions for access to unemployment benefit and the authorization of private employment agencies, as well as on the implementation of short-term programmes to combat unemployment. The Committee notes with interest the increase in the number of beneficiaries of vocational training courses for adults. It also notes that, since the beginning of 1992, the Government has been encouraging the creation of new jobs through subsidies to partly cover wages during the first two years following recruitment. Please supply any available evaluation of the results obtained by this measure. More generally, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply information on specific employment promotion policies and programmes which, according to the report, were under examination by the new Government formed after the June 1992 elections.

3. The Committee notes the statement that the Government's plan to change the system for fixing minimum wages encountered determined opposition from the Histadrut. With reference to its previous request, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply information in its next report on the consultations held with representatives of the persons affected concerning the employment policies followed during the reference period, in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, with an indication of their objective, the opinions expressed and the manner in which they were taken into account.