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Lifelong education and training policies. The Committee refers to its comments on the application of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), and notes with interest that the National Skills Plan 2003-07 defines, in accordance with international discussions in the context of the ILO, social and vocational skills as an indispensable right and requirement to guarantee decent work for men and women. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government in its report received in September 2003 in which it indicates that the National Workers’ Training Plan (PLANFOR) proposed the provision of vocational training on an annual basis for at least 20 per cent of the active population, thereby contributing to increasing its employability and income, raising productivity and competitiveness and reducing poverty. During the period 1995-2002, PLANFOR secured the provision of vocational training for 16.1 million persons, 90 per cent of whom were unemployed or in a precarious employment situation. The Government expresses its intention of reaching out, through vocational training measures, to the "hard core of social exclusion". The Government also refers to the advice received from the ILO for the formulation of strategies and methodologies relating to the new aspects of vocational training. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to describe, in its next report, the manner in which vocational guidance and training systems cover the continuing vocational learning and training needs of persons with specific needs and in all sectors of the economy. In this respect, the Government may find it useful to refer to the provisions of the recent Human Resources Development Recommendation, 2004 (No. 195).