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1. The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending June 1998. It notes the adoption of Act No. 16783 of 16 September 1997 setting requirements and offering incentives to enterprises to recruit young persons under certain forms of contracts; and of Act No. 16906 of 7 January 1998 on investment. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the impact on the labour market of the measures adopted under the above Acts. In particular, the Government is requested to indicate the manner in which the contracts concluded under Act No. 16783 have contributed to the young persons concerned finding lasting employment and remaining in the labour market.

2. The Committee notes that the unemployment rate rose from an average of 9 per cent in 1992 to over 11 per cent in 1996. The informal sector has grown in recent years and in 1993 represented 11 per cent of GNP. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide the most detailed information available on the nature, extent and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment, as requested in the report form under Article 1 of the Convention.

3. The Committee also notes that, in the context of the Labour Observatory of the National Directorate of Employment, several studies and investigations have been conducted to gather and analyse information on the real situation in important sectors of the national economy. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the extent to which it has been possible to use these studies to evaluate the effects on employment of economic and social policy measures. Please also specify the employment objectives set out in development plans and programmes and describe the manner in which it is ensured that their effects on employment are taken into consideration when adopting macroeconomic measures (Article 2).

4. The Committee notes the programmes implemented by the National Directorate of Employment (DNE) in collaboration with the National Employment Board (JNE) for various groups encountering problems related to employment and vocational training. The Committee notes that certain programmes are implemented with the support of the representative organizations of employers and workers. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would include an evaluation in its next report of the results achieved by these programmes in terms of the attainment of lasting employment and labour market integration.

5. Article 3. In reply to its previous comments concerning consultations with the representatives of the informal and rural sectors, the Government states that a training programme has been undertaken for rural workers with their support and participation. The Committee recalls that the consultations required by this Article concern employment policy measures. These consultations must have the objective of determining the experience and views of the representatives of employers' and workers' organizations and securing their full cooperation in formulating and enlisting support for such policies. The Committee notes the Government's statement on the important role of the National Employment Board in the formulation of active employment and vocational training policies and in the implementation of targeted programmes. The Committee trusts that the Government will indicate the subjects covered by the consultations held in the context of the above body and the manner in which account is taken of the views of the representatives of the rural and informal sectors in formulating employment policy, within the meaning of the Convention.