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The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending June 1996 and the information that it contains in reply to its previous request. It hopes that the Government will endeavour to transmit the information and studies required in the report form adopted by the Governing Body, particularly with regard to the following matters.

1. The Committee notes that the data provided only relates to unemployed persons who are registered in employment offices. It notes in this regard that a survey of the active population is currently being carried out, and that its results should be available in 1997. The Committee hopes that the Government will be in a position to supply full statistical information in its next report on the situation and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment. Please indicate any progress that it has been possible to achieve in the compilation and analysis of the necessary data as a basis for decisions on employment policy measures.

2. The Committee notes the description of certain measures to promote self-employment which are intended in particular for disabled war veterans and persons with disabilities, as well as the assistance for geographical mobility for employment. Please state the approximate number of workers concerned by these measures and the results obtained.

3. Please also supply information on the implementation of the other labour market policy measures envisaged by the Employment Act, such as subsidies for the recruitment of the unemployed and public works programmes.

4. Please supply information on vocational training and retraining activities for the unemployed, and the measures adopted or envisaged to coordinate education and training policies with prospective employment opportunities.

5. Please state whether measures have been adopted to prevent or accompany lay-offs for economic or structural reasons.

6. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, active employment policy measures cannot reduce registered unemployment in the current economic situation. It recalls that employment policy in the meaning of the Convention involves other aspects of government action and must, under the terms of Article 2 of the Convention, be pursued within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy. The Committee once again requests the Government to describe the manner in which the principal measures of its general economic policy contribute to promoting full, productive and freely chosen employment, as a major goal, in accordance with Article 1 of the Convention. Please, in particular, describe the measures adopted for this purpose in such fields as investment policy, fiscal and monetary policies, trade policy and prices, incomes and wages policies, in response to the relevant questions in the report form adopted by the Governing Body.

7. Article 3. The Committee notes that the report contains no information on the effect given to this fundamental provision of the Convention. It once again requests the Government to describe the machinery adopted or envisaged to ensure consultation on the employment policy of the representatives of the persons affected by the measures to be taken.

8. Part V of the report form. The Committee has been informed of the request for ILO assistance made by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs with a view to improving the employment policy. It understands that the Budapest multidisciplinary team has been in contact with the Government for this purpose and that a number of proposals have been made for future activities. It trusts that the Government will continue this collaboration.