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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its 2001 direct request which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in October 2000 in reply to its 1999 observation. The Government indicates that, following the National Employment Conference (July 1998), an employment promotion strategy was implemented with a view to promoting market mechanisms and creating jobs through the encouragement of private investment, exports and a programme of privatization of public enterprises. Employment was made a priority in all sectoral policies and a National Employment Fund was created in 1999. Since 1997, the Tunisian Bank of Solidarity has been facilitating greater access by micro-enterprises to bank credits. The Committee trusts that the Government will continue to give priority in its plans and programmes to the objectives of full employment and that it will provide detailed information in its next report on the manner in which the employment objectives set out in the Ninth Development Plan (1997-2001) have been achieved (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention). It would be grateful if the Government would provide detailed information on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment, particularly with regard to women and young persons who are seeking to gain access to the labour market.

2. The Committee notes that a programme for the enhancement of vocational training and employment (MANFORME) (1996-2002) is being carried out by the Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment. It requests that the Government indicate the results achieved by the MANFORME programme, as well as of any other measures taken to coordinate education and training policies with prospective employment opportunities.

3. Article 3 (in conjunction with Article 2). The Committee notes that a process of dialogue with all the partners concerned, and particularly the social partners, has been established. This process of dialogue has been strengthened by the National Employment Declaration concluded in July 1998 following the National Employment Conference. It hopes that the Government will continue to provide information on the manner in which the employment policy is determined and regularly reviewed, in the context of a coordinated economic and social policy, in consultation with the representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations, and the representatives of rural workers and informal sector workers.

4. Part V of the report form. Among the measures taken concerning investment, the Government refers to the implementation of pilot programmes for the training and support of potential promoters and entrepreneurs through the introduction of new forms of training, such as the ILO’s SYB (Start Your Enterprise) and IYB (Improve Your Enterprise) methods. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report any action taken as a result of the assistance received from the ILO in the field of employment policy.