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The Committee notes that the Government's report contains no reply to previous comments. It hopes that the next report will include full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee refers to its observation and requests the Government to include in its next report details on the following matters.

1. The Government's report states that the policy of liberalizing trade has had a positive effect in regard to production but that opening up of frontiers, far from being a solution to the expansion of small and medium industries has had the opposite effect as certain industries of this type had to close as they could not meet the competition from similar industries in other countries. The Committee notes the statistical export tables (1985-93) compiled for Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. The Committee requests the Government to continue supplying information to allow it to ascertain how the trade policy affects employment.

2. On wages policy the Government, which supplies detailed information, states that wages which are still inadequate despite the increases made will be increased progressively and regularly. The Committee recalls that the wages policy must be an essential element of any policy designed to promote increased national incomes and their equitable distribution (see paragraph 21 et seq. of Recommendation No. 122 on employment policy, 1964). The Committee requests the Government to include data on the incomes policy allowing it to ascertain how workers' remuneration contributes to economic development and raising levels of living which are among the objectives set out in Article 1 of the Convention.

3. Please provide indications on the work and results of the coordinating committee set up to implement the national training programme for integration in productive activities of public employees, established under Decree No. 2243.

4. Please indicate whether the measures adopted by the Social Front -- restructured under Decree No. 2207 of 21 October 1994 -- have taken into account the provisions of the Convention in formulating employment policy measures.

5. Please continue to supply indication of the activities of the Programme for Urgent Employment and Social Development implemented by the National Employment Institute. The Committee would particularly appreciate indication of specific action undertaken as the result of advisory services from the Office on employment policies (Part V of the report form).

6. In reply to previous comments the Government states that despite the lack of specific studies on the effects on employment of Acts No. 90 of 1990 and No. 1 of 1991, the establishment of free zones has generated jobs, particularly in the areas close to ports. The Committee refers again to its direct request of 1994 and asks the Government to include any indication available on part-time employment contracts and free zones. The Government may consider it useful to consult the instruments adopted by the Conference in 1994 on part-time employment (Convention No. 175 and Recommendation No. 182). Similarly, the Committee requests the Government to refer to its previous commentaries on the application of labour legislation and the ratified Conventions in free exporting zones. It trusts that the Government might call on the experience of the ILO and will indicate the impact on job creation in the free zones.