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1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy and poverty reduction. The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending September 2006, the observations of the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Senegal (UNSAS) and the Government’s reply received in October 2006. The Government indicates that the urban unemployment rate remains very high, although it fell to 12.7 per cent in 2001, compared with 14.1 per cent in 1994. The Committee notes with interest the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP) 2006–10, of October 2006, which indicates that the principal problem of the employment market is visible underemployment, which is at the rate of 21.8 per cent of the population (or 1,002,372 active persons). The Government reports that it has formulated in a participatory manner a new national employment policy (PNE), which is currently being validated. In this respect, the Committee notes from the GPRSP 2006–10 that, with a view to promoting a decent employment policy, the State will implement a policy of productive and inclusive employment which has the following specific objectives: (i) promoting the improved management and employability of the labour force; (ii) reinforcing the effectiveness and transparency of the employment market; (iii) promoting self-employment in rural and urban areas; (iv) increasing the employment content of growth; (v) reinforcing and intensifying the contribution of productive sectors to employment creation and poverty reduction; (vi) developing and modernizing the public employment system; (vii) promoting an improved organization of the participation of migrant workers; (viii) promoting labour-intensive works; (ix) improving the economic and social situation of persons experiencing difficulties on the employment market; and (x) improving the health and living conditions of workers. The Committee emphasizes the importance of ensuring that employment, as a key component of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. It requests the Government to provide a report containing detailed information on the manner in which the employment policy objectives set in the context of the GPRSP 2006–10 have been achieved. It also requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved by the measures adopted in the context of the Poverty Reduction Strategy, with particular reference to young persons and women, and through any other measure implemented to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment.

2. Compilation and utilization of employment data. The Government indicates that the employment market is characterized by a lack of visibility, with no coordination between the various sources of information. To remedy this situation, the Government indicates that a project has been developed for the establishment of a national observatory of employment and vocational skills (ONEQP). The Committee notes with interest that the Government has also received ILO assistance for the initiation of other projects, such as the operational list of occupations and jobs (ROME). In this respect, the UNSAS reports slowness and delays in the implementation of the National Employment Agency, ONEQP and ROME. The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate in the next report the progress achieved in the compilation of employment data, with an indication of the employment policy measures adopted as a result of the establishment of the Statistical Agency and the National Observatory of Employment and Vocational Skills.

3. Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the design and formulation of policies. In reply to the comments of the UNSAS, the Government emphasizes that tripartism is used systematically in all phases of the design, implementation and evaluation of all employment programmes. It adds that the National Employment Policy Monitoring Committee has been replaced by the Intersectoral Committee to follow up the implementation, supervision and evaluation of the Statement by Heads of State and Government of the African Union on employment and combating poverty. The Government indicates that this tripartite committee has held several meetings with a view to formulating the new national employment policy. The Committee requests the Government to provide examples in its next report of the consultations held with the social partners, among others in the context of the intersectoral follow-up committee, on the subjects covered by the Convention, with an indication of the opinions expressed and the manner in which they have been taken into account. The Committee recalls that the consultations envisaged by the Convention require the consultation of representatives of all of the persons affected, including those in the rural sector and the informal economy, and it requests the Government to indicate the measures envisaged with a view to ensuring that the latter collaborate fully in the design and implementation of employment policies.

4. Part V of the report form. ILO technical assistance. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the action taken as a result of the technical assistance received from the ILO with a view to the implementation of an active employment policy within the meaning of the Convention.