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The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending September 2002 received in June 2003.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Government explains that although unemployment has remained relatively stable at 9.9 per cent for 2001, the rate among women still remains disproportionately high at 12.6 per cent. In this connection, the Government refers to the efforts of the Bureau of Gender Affairs in mainstreaming the concept of gender with the objective of providing greater benefits for women in the area of employment, and to the work realized by the Ministry of Social Transformation that, through a number of programmes, assists in generating employment for its predominantly female clientele. Finally, the Government mentions the efforts by the urban and rural development commissions to promote the development of the infrastructure and encourage rural employment creation both within agriculture and non-agriculture activities. The Committee notes this information and would appreciate continuing to receive in the Government’s next report details on the various programmes implemented and their impact on employment promotion both in the aggregate and as they affect particular categories of workers such as women, young persons and older workers. Please also supply information on underemployment as requested in previous comments.

2. In its report, the Government provides information on the development of a green paper on persons with disabilities that outlines a strategic approach to improving the situation of disabled workers in the labour market. In addition, the Government has created the National Disabilities Unit which is responsible for providing services and support to disabled workers, facilitating collaboration between Government and non-governmental organizations, empowering organizations of persons with disabilities, providing sensitivity training to public and private sector agencies and advising the Government on disability issues. The Committee notes this information with interest and would appreciate that in its next report, the Government would include data on the integration of workers with disabilities in the labour market. The Government might consider it useful to refer to the instruments on people with disabilities adopted by the Conference in 1983 (Convention No. 159 and Recommendation No. 168).

3. Article 2. The Government explains that the Statistical Department and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security are responsible for collecting and analysing data concerning the size and distribution of the labour force. Please provide information on how the various policies and programmes to promote employment are kept under review within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy.

4. Article 3. The Committee notes that a national consultation on the economy was convened in 2002 to seek the support of the social partners in maintaining employment levels in view of the global economic downturn. A three-month moratorium was agreed upon in relation to wage negotiations in key sectors of the economy. The Committee again asks the Government to provide further details 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 concerning employment policies.