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The Committee notes the comprehensive information provided by the Government in its report for the period ending in May 2005, as well as the replies in response to its 2003 direct request.

1. Employment trends and active labour market measures. The Government indicates that, since the implementation of its Programme for Promoting Employment in 2002, a total of 72,798 people found employment. However, since 2002, the increase in the employment rate of women was only half that of men. The Government also indicates that the unemployment rate has been decreasing since 2002 but still stood at a high level of 13.8 per cent in 2004 (compared to 15.2 per cent in 2002). Proportionally, the unemployment rates have also been decreasing for women and youth since 2002, but are still a matter of concern with rates of respectively 16 per cent and 33.8 per cent in the last half of 2004.

2. The Government indicates that it has adopted a National Plan of Action for Employment for the period running from 2005 to 2008, which follows the directives of the European Employment Strategy and contains an entire series of directives and measures for achieving full employment, quality and labour productivity, social cohesion and inclusion. Particular attention has been devoted to measures of active policies through which it is planned to prevent or reduce the phenomenon of long-term unemployment in general and particularly the long-term unemployment of the young. The Government indicates its intention to create and implement a stable model of financing measures for the active employment policy. Furthermore, it indicates that there are plans to promote the creation of new jobs in small and medium-sized enterprises by shortening the procedure for their registration, accelerating the solution of business and labour disputes, and creating a favourable business climate. The Government also mentions that it is preparing a reform of secondary schooling, directed at the acquisition of basic skills, in order to achieve greater productivity, flexibility and adaptability on the labour market, and that a reform in professional training is ongoing, directed towards standardization of professions and the development of a system for the recognition of diplomas. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing information on the various labour market policy measures referred to in the report and their impact on employment, particularly as concerns employment of women and young persons. It would also appreciate receiving further information on how the measures taken to promote full and productive employment operate within a "framework of a coordinated economic and social policy" (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

3. With reference to the Committee’s previous request, the Government indicates that the private employment agencies are having a favourable, although not significant, effect on employment and complement well with the Croatian Employment Service. The committee draws again the Government’s attention to the fact that it may deem it useful to consult the instruments on the public employment services (Convention No. 88 and Recommendation No. 83) and on the private employment agencies (Convention No. 181 and Recommendation No. 188) adopted by the Conference at its 31st and 85th Sessions (1948 and 1997).

4. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicates that various ministries, state institutions, scientific research institutions, employers’ and workers’ associations, unions, non-governmental organizations and representatives of the local communities participated in the preparation of the National Plan of Employment Activity. It also indicates that social partners can have an impact on the employment policy and its implementation through participation in the work of the Economic-Social Council and through their representatives, in the Executive Council of the Croatian Employment Service. The Committee asks the Government to keep providing information on the manner in which the views of employers and workers, including representatives of rural workers and other affected groups, are taken sufficiently into account in the development, implementation and review of employment policies and programmes (Article 3).