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1. The Committee takes note of the Government's report for the period ending in June 1998 and of the comments made by the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK), the Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees (STTK), and the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland (AKAVA), and communicated with the report.

2. With reference to its previous comments on this matter, the Committee notes the explanations concerning the membership and function of the training commissions established under the auspices of the Ministry of Education. The Committee also notes that, according to the AKAVA, tripartism is working as it should in the area of labour market training, while the STTK consider that cooperation between employment offices and the representative organizations should be intensified in this area. In order to be able to assess the manner in which the cooperation with the employers' and workers' organizations required by Article 5 of the Convention is achieved in practice, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would attach to its next report extracts from reports, studies and inquiries of the different competent bodies representing the social partners (Part VI of the report form).

3. The Committee observes that the SAK expresses disagreement on a number of aspects of the Government's education and training policy. The SAK considers, for example, that more attention is paid to higher education than to vocational training; that the planned transfer of 20 per cent of places in vocational training establishments to apprenticeship contracts will not provide trainees with the same opportunities for study; and that on-the-job training encouraged by wage subsidies gives rise to abuses, especially in small enterprises which find it difficult to provide adequate training. The STTK, for its part, emphasizes the low proportion of long-term unemployed who avail themselves of their right to pursue studies while continuing to receive unemployment benefits; this is the result of the insufficient availability of appropriate training, the strict and complex conditions imposed and the requirement of a long qualifying period in employment. The Committee invites the Government to indicate its views on the issues raised by the trade union organizations, with regard in particular to the need for openness, flexibility and complementarity in the education and training systems, in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 2000.]