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The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report received in September 2004.

1. Policies to promote employment. The Committee notes from the Government’s report as well as from data supplemented by the technical units of the Office that, after having reached extremely low levels of only 44 per cent of the working age population in employment, which represents the lowest employment rate in the 25 EU Member States, employment showed some signs of recovery towards the end of 2004. At 20 per cent on average in 2003 and 18 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2004, the unemployment rate remained at its highest level since the start of economic transition and is one of the highest in OECD countries, but the rapid pace of economic growth is leading to a slight improvement. The Committee further notes that the unemployment rate among the age group 15-24 was 37 per cent in the last quarter of 2004, over twice the level of the population as a whole. Moreover, gender gaps in unemployment are also significant and there are persistent regional disparities in the level of unemployment.

2. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government concerning the law on pre-retirement benefits, the Government’s strategy "Entrepreneurship-Development-Labour" aimed at a more employment-friendly environment and support of entrepreneurship, the "First Job" programme for young people and the programme "50+" for elderly workers. While taking note of this information, the Committee would appreciate if the Government could provide an assessment of the effectiveness of the respective programmes, including information on the number of participants and the percentage of them who have found regular employment after their participation in these programmes. The Committee would 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". It further asks the Government to submit information on the measures taken to increase the employment rate among older workers and to protect workers affected by structural changes in the economy (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest that the Government has held consultations with the social partners on a wide variety of issues, both at the national and regional levels, through the Tripartite Commission for Socio-Economic Issues, various employment councils and the Supreme Employment Council, which has been enlarged to include representatives of voivodship councils as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations of national range. In this regard, the Committee asks the Government to continue to supply information on the manner in which representatives of the persons affected (both in the formal and informal economy and in rural areas) are consulted concerning employment policies including information on the consultation held at the regional level on the matters covered by the Convention (Article 3).