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The Committee notes the detailed information provided in the Government’s report received in August 2006, including replies to the matters raised in its previous observation.

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Employment trends and active labour policies. In cooperation with the ILO, the Government standardized its research methodology used in the household survey, which provides key information on the labour force. The Government’s report indicates that the economically active population decreased to 1,422,300 persons in 2005, down 7 per cent from the previous year. Emigration of skilled workers is one factor that explains this decrease with 394,000 workers leaving the country in 2005. According to data provided by the labour force survey, unemployment affected 104,000 people in 2005 which corresponds to a 7.3 per cent unemployment rate. The Government states that a national plan of action for 2004–08 was approved, with one important measure on the creation of a labour market information system already implemented. Key accomplishments noted in the report are the creation of 34,000 jobs annually on average for the period 2003–05 and vocational training for over 4,500 people per year for the same period. The Committee welcomes the implementation of the labour market information system as it will empower the Government to decide on and keep under review, within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy, the measures to be adopted for attaining the objectives specified in the Convention. It requests the Government to provide details in its next report on how data will be used to implement new employment measures (Article 2(a)).

2. Means to promote youth employment. The Committee notes the information concerning the high level of youth unemployment which was measured at 18.7 per cent in 2005, down slightly from 19.5 per cent in 2003. The Government adopted a programme for the prevention of youth unemployment for 2004–06 with goals of increasing employment, developing entrepreneurship and encouraging employers to adapt for younger workers entering the workforce. In this regard, the Committee asks the Government to include in its next report information on how recently adopted measures have translated into lasting employment opportunities for young workers entering the workforce.

3. Means to promote employment of workers with disabilities. The report indicates that an action plan for the employment and job creation for workers with disabilities has been adopted for 2004–06 with the objective of increasing training and job opportunities for them. The Committee asks the Government to include in its next report relevant data on the employment of people with disabilities and how the measures implemented have facilitated their integration into the open labour market.

4. Human trafficking victims. The Committee notes the measures listed in the Government’s report to integrate into the labour market the victims of human trafficking. In 2005, 128 victims of human trafficking have benefited from consultations on professional integration and 44 have engaged in vocational training courses. The Committee would appreciate to receive further information on the action taken within the framework of an active employment policy to prevent abuse in the recruitment of labour and the exploitation of migrant workers in the Republic of Moldova (see Part X of the Employment Policy (Supplementary Provisions) Recommendation, 1984 (No. 169)).

5. Business development. The Committee notes that the small business sector accounts for 92 per cent of all businesses and 30 per cent of the labour force employed in the Republic of Moldova. The Government has taken measures to improve the legislative framework on entrepreneurial activities by simplifying the tax system, facilitating the financing of business projects, diminishing administrative regulations, better informing entrepreneurs and by increasing the qualification of the labour force through training programmes. The report also indicates that a law is being drafted and will focus on the regulation of entrepreneurial activity. A strategy for the support and development of small and medium-sized businesses for 2006–08 was also in its drafting stage. The Committee asks the Government in its next report to provide information concerning the development of small businesses in regards to the methods used by the Government to improve the success rate of young entrepreneurs and the methods used to involve the social partners in informing small business owners and entrepreneurs of key labour market concerns and opportunities. The Government may find it useful to consult the provisions of the Job Creation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Recommendation, 1998 (No. 189).

6. Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Government indicates in its report that it has collaborated with the social partners in order to improve legislation and to elaborate a number of employment policy measures. It also indicated that legislative drafts involving labour matters are submitted to both workers’ and employers’ organizations for proposals or modifications. The Committee also notes that the governing board of the National Employment Agency has met four times in 2005. At the local level, consultative councils were also developed using a tripartite structure in order to promote dialogue with the social partners. The Committee trusts that the Government will continue to provide information on the consultations held on the matters covered by the Convention with the representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations including details of their contribution to the implementation of an active employment policy. 

7. ILO technical cooperation. The Government reports that it has implemented two new projects designed to improve the situation in the labour market. These projects target the development of the textile industry, which should result in increased exports and the employment of more workers. The Committee notes the cooperation with the Government of Germany that has permitted to develop these new projects. The Committee welcomes the information provided on the success of bilateral and multilateral initiatives and would like to receive in the Government’s next report specific results achieved by these initiatives in order to generate productive employment.