CMNT_TITLE

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending September 2002. It also notes that the survey of the active population places unemployment at 6.6 per cent (in 2001). The gap between urban and rural unemployment continues to widen: in 2001, the urban unemployment rate was 11.7 per cent, compared with 2.4 per cent for rural unemployment. The unemployment rate among persons with low educational levels remains fairly limited (4 per cent, compared with 3.9 per cent for highly qualified persons in 2001). Long-term unemployment (almost half of the unemployed in 2001) remains substantial. Unemployment among young persons is three times higher than among adults. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide statistics that are as detailed as possible on the level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment. It also asks the Government if it would indicate the manner in which the data compiled are used to keep under review, within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy, the measures adopted to achieve the objectives set out in the Convention.

2. The Government indicates that since 2001 employment measures have been adopted in the context of an annual national programme setting out precise social protection objectives. This programme consists of various measures to promote employment, which are established by law. It focuses on groups experiencing difficulties in gaining access to the labour market. In 2002, the programme, as set out in Act No. 76/2002, included among its objectives reducing unemployment and its social consequences, improving the structure of employment by economic branch and geographical area, increasing labour mobility taking into account structural changes and maintaining equality of opportunity in the labour market. The national programme of action now also has the objective of raising the level of employment through the access to employment of 250,000 persons from disadvantaged categories, including young persons, the long-term unemployed, persons with disabilities, released prisoners and members of the Rom minority. The Committee would be grateful to be kept informed of the results of this policy and its programmes, and particularly the number and nature of the stable jobs to which the above categories of workers have gained access.

3. The Government states that vocational training services for adults are provided by the National Employment Agency, which has a network of  15 centres in 14 departments, five regional adult training centres, three Germano-Romanian foundations, a zonal centre for the vocational training of the young unemployed and several vocational training offices in departmental employment centres and the commune of Bucharest. The Government explains that the National Vocational Training Programme implemented by the National Employment Agency has been designed on the basis of the demand for labour, the types of vocational training available at the national and local levels and forecasts of economic and social development. During 2001, as a result of 720 vocational training courses, a total of 17,147 persons obtained jobs. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue providing information on the impact on employment of the activities undertaken by the National Employment Agency in the field of vocational training and, more generally, on the action carried out by the Government to coordinate education and training policies with employment prospects.

4.  Article 3. The Committee notes the information concerning the tripartite structure of the National Employment Agency. With reference to its previous requests, the Committee trusts that the Government will provide more detailed information in its next report on the arrangements made to ensure the consultation of all the representatives of the persons affected by employment policies and, in particular, representatives of workers and employers, "with a view to taking fully into account their experience and views and securing their full cooperation in formulating and enlisting support for such policies".