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1. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in September 2005. It notes the adoption of the State Programme for the Employment of the Population of the Republic of Belarus for 2005 (State Employment Programme) whose main objective is to assist unemployed and temporarily unemployed citizens to resume or commence employment. According to figures provided by the Government, there were 59,300 fewer workers in the workforce in 2004 as compared to 2003. Despite more positive trends in 2004 and 2005, the Government states that the labour market continues to be characterized by an excess in labour resources in which there are two unemployed people for every advertised job vacancy. During the period under review, the change in employment structure continued to be characterized by a redistribution of the workforce from industry to the non-production sector. The Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report the outcomes of the State Employment Programme and its impact on job creation. Recalling its previous comments, the Committee also asks the Government to send information, including statistics disaggregated by age and gender, on the effects of restructuring on employment (Article 1 of the Convention).

2. Regions with high levels of unemployment. In its report, the Government indicates that seven regions in Belarus have consistently high levels of unemployment and that the needs of these areas are taken into account by the State Employment Programme. Accordingly, a number of measures are planned to address regional employment inequalities, including job-search assistance, entrepreneurship grants or loans for the unemployed, vocational training, temporary student employment, resettlement assistance as well as unemployment benefits for jobseekers. The Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on regional development trends and on the outcome of the programmes adopted to promote employment in regions of high unemployment.

3. Particular categories of workers. The Committee notes from the Government’s report the legislative amendment adopted with respect to recruiting unemployed orphans, as well as the legislation to facilitate opportunities for young people to study abroad. It further notes that the 2004 State Employment Programme set quotas for the recruitment of workers who were otherwise unable to compete on the labour market on equal terms and that, as a result of these quotas, 15,200 unemployed people were placed in regular jobs in 2004, including 4,100 young people, 2,200 persons with disabilities and 2,900 former prisoners. During the same year, 20,500 young people and 17,600 women received vocational training. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing information on the measures adopted to meet the needs of vulnerable categories of workers, such as women, young people, older workers and workers with disabilities, particularly within the context of its State Employment Programmes. Please also include information on the impact the measures have had in promoting employment among these particular categories of workers.

4. Coordinated economic and social policy. The Government indicates in its report that it closely monitors the labour market and that an assessment is under way to consider the extent to which the State Employment Programme is improving the employment situation and what steps need to be taken in the future. Recalling that, under the terms of the Convention, the measures to be taken to achieve employment objectives should be decided on and kept under review within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy, the Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report the manner in which overall and sectoral economic policies and social policies contribute to the promotion of full, productive and freely chosen employment. Please also provide information on any labour market assessments, particularly on how the programmes implemented have contributed to job creation (Article 2).

5. Participation of social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. In its report, the Government indicates that a general agreement was concluded in March 2004 between the Government and the social partners for 2004-05 addressing the main lines along which social and labour relations would be regulated. The Committee asks the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the negotiation and content of agreements with the social partners regarding the promotion of employment. It further requests the Government to indicate how the representatives of the social partners, including those working in the rural sector and the informal economy are actively engaged in implementing the State Employment Policy (Article 3).