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Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention.  The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, in particular the progress made in controlling inflation and recovering from the recent economic crisis. The Government’s main strategies for promoting employment and tackling poverty are to reduce public spending and to redistribute work by reducing the number of working hours per person. The Government is investing in infrastructure projects and expanding access to primary education to create the conditions for economic expansion. However, the Committee notes with concern that extreme poverty is still widespread and growing, and that unemployment rose from 9.2 per cent in 1997 to 14.4 per cent in 1999. Women and young people have been the worst affected. It is also estimated by the ILO that the increase in poverty has caused an increase in child labour. The Government has taken some measures to combat poverty, in particular by providing solidarity vouchers to poor female-headed households, but it appears that more radical measures may be needed as an interim measure. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on the measures taken to prioritize employment promotion and social development, such as negotiating a rescheduling of debt repayments on condition that the money will be applied to appropriate social expenditures.

Article 3.  The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it aims to improve relations between workers and employers, and that there is an ILO technical cooperation project on strengthening social dialogue. The Committee requests further information on progress made in strengthening social dialogue in the sphere of employment policy, examples of such consultation, and the outcomes.