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The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s detailed report for the period from 31 May 1999 to 31 May 2000, as well as the appended paper on Employment Policy of the Department of Industrial Relations.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Government states that it now has a full time statistician for labour market data, and that a comprehensive approach to data collection and analysis is a key element of its employment strategy. The employment policy focuses on promoting both quantity and quality of employment, without discrimination, and in both urban and rural areas. The Government aims to improve services to jobseekers and the self-employed, including skills development. The Government also identifies the importance of giving equal priority to the needs of employers with respect to public placement services, to encourage them to register vacancies. More generally, the Government intends to encourage decentralized placement services, including non-governmental placement services, which it will monitor. The Government also states that a report was prepared with ILO assistance concerning Structural Adjustment on Minimum Social Costs. The project is still ongoing for 2000-01. The Government held a National Tripartite Workshop on Equality and Protection for Women Workers in the Formal Sector, and the Government has a project on Employment-Oriented Skills Development currently in progress to improve income-earning opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed. The Committee notes this information and would appreciate receiving further details on how the employment policy is given effect through specific programmes and their impact on employment promotion. Please provide the information required in the report form on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment.

Article 2. Please 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 3. Please provide further information on the manner in which consultations are held with representatives of employers, workers and other groups, such as rural and informal sector workers, and on the outcome of these consultations.