CMNT_TITLE

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in 2002, which contains useful information in reply to its previous comments and on the achievements relating to employment in the framework of the Ninth Development Plan (1997-2001). The Government indicates in its report that during the course of the Ninth Plan some 322,000 jobs were created. Unemployment has tended to decline and is now 15 per cent. The proportion of illiterate unemployed has also fallen to the level of 9.5 per cent. The Committee requests that the Government provide any data or estimates available with its next report so as to enable the Committee to examine the situation and trends of the labour market. The Committee also asks the Government to provide an indication of the manner in which labour market statistics are kept up to date in the periods between the national population-employment surveys.

2. The Government has implemented a Tenth Economic and Social Development Plan (2002-06). Under this Plan, employment policy is designed to develop human resources and encourage self-employment and investment in employment-intensive sectors. The Government envisages in particular strengthening the role of the private sector with a view to accelerating the pace of investment and thereby increasing the growth rate of jobs. By giving priority to employment in the various sectoral policies, the Government is giving effect to its commitment to achieve the objective of full employment. The Plan also envisages the implementation of an information and analysis system with a view to monitoring employment trends and the level of unemployment. The Committee notes this information and would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide detailed information on the various programmes implemented and their effect on the promotion of employment, both at the overall level and as regards specific categories of workers, such as women, young persons, older workers and the disabled. It also requests that the Government provide information on underemployment, as requested in the report form.

3. Article 3. The Committee notes with interest the establishment of a Higher Council for Human Resources Development which includes representatives of the Ministries of Education, Vocational Training, Employment and Higher Education, as well as representatives of political parties, occupational associations and national organizations, including representatives of the social partners. The Council issues opinions on national policy orientations  in relation to education and vocational training with the view to ensuring the coherence and coordination of national plans relating to human resource development. The Committee invites the Government to provide further information on the operation of the Council, with an indication of the opinions issued and the manner in which they have been taken into account in the decisions adopted on employment policies. In particular, with reference to Article 2 of the Convention, it would be grateful if the Government would indicate the procedures followed for deciding on and keeping under review its employment policy within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy, in consultation with the representatives of employers and workers, as well as representatives of persons working in the rural sector and the informal economy.