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1. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee takes note of the information contained in the Government’s report received in October 2006, in reply to the Committee’s 2004 observation, and the detailed comments and supplementary information provided by the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TİSK), annexed to the report. The Government reports that, over the course of the reporting period, the Turkish Employment Agency (İŞKUR) was restructured which, inter alia, provided for the creation of regional employment agencies in 81 regions. The Committee notes that TİSK considers that the restructuring of İŞKUR was an apt decision and that the duties undertaken by the agency will in time reach their goals. The Committee similarly observes that, in comments provided with respect to Convention No. 122, the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-İŞ) has remarked that İŞKUR is the only employment agency in Turkey that has made some advances in recent years, but that the resources available to make İŞKUR more effective and functional in the labour market are inadequate. The Committee notes with interest the abovementioned information and would welcome continuing to receive information on the activities İŞKUR has undertaken so that it might effectively carry out its functions under the Convention. Similarly, the Committee requests such information be supported by statistics on the number of jobseekers and employers which made use of İŞKUR’s services, and the results of such activities in matching jobseekers and employers.

2. Article 4 of the Convention. Participation of social partners. The Committee notes the information provided on the functions of the regional employment councils, and the methods by which representatives of social partners are designated to participate in these councils. The Committee also notes the information provided by TİSK on the establishment of the “Pilot Scheme for Improving Efficiency in Training and Employment”, funded by the European Union, TİSK and TÜRK-İŞ, which aims to increase the efforts directed at the improvement of training and employment services, and seeks to reinforce the ties between training and employment. The Committee notes with interest that, under this scheme, 180 reports by the regional employment agencies were examined, focus group meetings were held between members of TİSK and TÜRK-İŞ, and a seminar was held for 200 representatives of TİSK, TÜRK-İŞ, the regional employment agencies, and other bodies and institutions. TİSK reports that, as well as being the first concrete project to be jointly implemented by the employee unions and the employer associations confederations for the development and implementation of social dialogue, the scheme is also being viewed as an attempt to have a tripartite dialogue with the participation of other representatives from the regional employment agency during the implementation phase. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing information on the operation of the regional employment councils and other advisory bodies, and the arrangements that have been made for the cooperation of employers and worker representatives in the organization and operation of employment service and in the development of employment service policy. In this regard, the Committee wishes to be kept informed of the activities and progress under the aforementioned pilot scheme.

3. Article 9. Status and training of employment service staff. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government on the method by which staff of the employment service are recruited, and arrangements for the training of such employees. The Government reports that, in 2005, 1,638 İŞKUR employees underwent training, while efforts were being made to raise this figure in 2006, to 4,200 persons. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the stability, recruitment, training and skills of İŞKUR staff, and the results of efforts it has taken with respect to improving access of its employees to such training activities.

4. Article 11. Cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies not conducted with a view to profit. The Committee notes with interest the information provided on the activities under the Project for Active Employment Programme (AIPP) which seeks to assist İŞKUR in developing a project for cooperation with private employment agencies. To this end, the Government reports that the project seeks to: (a) evaluate the results of the application of national legislation concerning private employment agencies within the framework of Article 11 of the Convention; (b) define principles of cooperation between organizations which undertake similar activities; (c) support İŞKUR in work related to private employment agencies; (d) better use information and data provided by private employment agencies in determining the national employment policy; and (e) identify private employment agencies operation without authorization, and to exchange views as to the measures to be taken. The Committee similarly takes note of the recommendations formulated by, and the future work of, the task force, composed of representatives from the Turkish Employment Agency and the related private employment agencies, created under the framework of the aforementioned project. The Committee requests that the Government continue to report on efforts made to secure effective cooperation between the public employment services and the private employment agencies, and the outcomes of the aforementioned project.