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The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report for the period from 30 June 1998 to 30 June 2000.

Article 1 of the Convention. The Government states that the level of official unemployment was 26.4 per cent in 1997. The Government is still undergoing structural adjustment and restructuring in industries. The Government’s employment strategy focuses on employment promotion for young people aged 16 to 27. The Government promotes employment by providing young people with loan guarantees to help start their own businesses (DIPJ). The DIPJ ran into funding problems because the banks refused to continue lending to young entrepreneurs because of the high failure rate due to the lack of qualifications of the entrepreneurs. The Government undertook a study in 1994 about why the project was not working, and published a report in 1995. For unemployed youth, there is also a programme to provide temporary employment doing local civic work, with the goal of aiding these workers to find more permanent work. Youth may receive vocational training lasting between one and six months, which focuses on adapting to work and using equipment at work. There are also correspondence courses available that address management issues.

The Government is also promoting micro-enterprises. It states that in 2000 there were 15,838 jobs created through microfinancing. The pre-employment contract (CPE) is a similar programme of employment promotion through micro-enterprise creation, but aimed specifically at jobseekers with higher qualifications (university degrees or technical school diplomas). In 1998 and 1999 there were a total of 15,879 participants. Microcredit schemes also exist for the poor and for family micro-enterprises. The Government also describes a programme for labour-intensive infrastructure and development projects such as housing and rural development. Lastly, the Government states that all of the programmes aimed at promoting employment of youth apply equally to young women. The Committee notes this information. It would appreciate receiving information on the impact of these programmes on employment promotion, as well as further information on measures adopted to meet fully the demand for jobs among disadvantaged categories of workers such as women, young people, workers affected by restructuring and people with disabilities.

Article 2. Please provide information on how employment policies and programmes are kept under review within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy.

Article 3. Please provide detailed information on the manner in which consultations on the formulation, implementation and evaluation of employment policies and programmes are held with representatives of employers, workers and other groups, such as rural and informal sector workers, and on the outcome of these consultations.