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The Committee has noted the report provided by the Government in reply to its observation, as well as the remarks made by the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (USS) concerning this report. Furthermore, it has noted the provisions of the Federal Law on vocational training of 13 December 2002 that entered into force in January 2004. It invites the Government to continue to provide detailed information on the policies adopted and the measures taken with regard to the following aspects of the application of the Convention.

1. Vocational guidance. The Committee notes that the USS emphasizes that, under the terms of the new Law on vocational training, vocational guidance is the competence of the cantons and that the Conference of Cantonal Directors of Public Education considers that it is only the initial contact which is covered by public services, whereas more in-depth advice must be paid for. The trade union organization sees this as a step backwards with regard to equal opportunities. In this regard, the Committee recalls that the Convention provides for the gradual extension of systems of vocational guidance, including continuing employment information "with a view to ensuring that comprehensive information and the broadest possible guidance are available to all children, young persons and adults" (Article 3, paragraph 1, of the Convention). It asks the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure that this information and guidance is provided to all concerned and that it covers the fields mentioned in Article 3, paragraphs 2 and 3, of the Convention.

2. Initial and further vocational training. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, there is unequal distribution of further training calls for demand-focused action, the practical details of which are currently being examined. The Committee also notes that, according to the USS, initial vocational training measures for youth remain inadequate, as demonstrated by the fact that unemployment amongst young people is higher than the average unemployment figure. Please indicate any new measures adopted or envisaged to meet the needs for vocational training throughout the life of both young persons and adults at all levels of skill (Article 4).

3. Cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee notes that, according to the USS, the social partners are not sufficiently associated in the process of defining the aims of the training and the measures to be taken. It asks the Government to indicate the way in which employers’ and workers’ organizations cooperate in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training, specifying whether a consultative procedure or mechanism has been established to that end (Article 5).