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The Committee takes note of the Government’s brief report received in October 2007, and the comments by the General Union of Cameroon Workers (UGTC) and the General Confederation of Labour-Liberty Cameroon (CGT-Liberté), sent to the Government in September 2007.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. Declaring and pursuing a national employment policy. The Government states that following the General Conference on Employment of November 2005, the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training (MINEFOP) has just convened the meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Labour, whose main role is to give its opinion on the declaration of the national employment policy submitted to it for consideration. The UGTC states that the declaration of the national employment policy has still to be signed by the Government. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures actually adopted and implemented, particularly in the context of the declaration of the national employment policy, designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment.

2. Articles 1 and 2. Coordinating the employment policy with poverty reduction. The Government states that Cameroon has recently introduced a “target-based budget” with a view to securing clarity as to the impact of public expenditure on the daily life of the population. It indicates in this connection that the medium-term expenditure framework will ensure that employment and poverty reduction are linked. The Committee refers to its observation of 2006, in which it noted that, according to the International Development Association (IDA) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Cameroon has met the requirements for reaching the completion point under the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative, particularly in view of the satisfactory implementation of the poverty reduction strategy in 2005, the third annual progress report of which was completed in 2006 (IMF Country Report No. 06/190, May 2006). The IDA and the IMF further observed that the National Employment Fund has continued its actions on the socio-occupational integration of young people in paid jobs and self-employment, notably through the signing of a partnership agreement between the Government and the Cameroon Employers’ Association (GICAM), the integration of jobseekers and the conclusion of agreements with vocational training centres and some enterprises for the validation of training modules (IMF Country Report No. 06/260, July 2006). The Committee again asks the Government to provide up to date and detailed information on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key factor in poverty reduction, is at the core of macroeconomic and social policy. It asks the Government in particular to provide information disaggregated by group on the results achieved in terms of employment, particularly for women, young people, older workers and persons with disabilities, following the adoption of these measures.

3. Article 2. Collection and analysis of statistical data. The Committee noted in its previous comments that during the General Conference on Employment, speakers emphasized that there was a lack of knowledge of the labour market and its operation, due to the absence of reliable statistical information. It noted that the Government had launched a general survey of the population, in particular to determine the distribution of the labour force, the nature, extent and trends of unemployment and underemployment, income, and poverty levels. The Government further indicated that the National Employment and Vocational Training Observatory (ONEFOP) has been in operation since 1 July 2005. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the work of ONEFOP and on progress made in compiling reliable statistical data. Please indicate how the measures adopted under the national employment policy are decided upon and followed up within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy.

4. Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. The Government indicates that the recommendations made by the General Conference on Employment have not as yet had any effect. The General Conference on Employment recommended, inter alia, that committees should be set up to assist the development of local employment in association with the social partners to reflect and act at the local level with a view to creating jobs. The UGTC and CGT-Liberté furthermore indicate that the Government has just set up two tripartite steering committees by decisions of 28 June 2007, one to draft the national employment policy and the other, the MINEFOP strategy. A steering committee to work out a strategy for vocational training and apprenticeship for the reform of the rural craft and domestic science sectors has also been set up and is composed of representatives of the Government and the employers. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures implemented, particularly following the recommendations of the General Conference on Employment of November 2005, to ensure that the representatives of those concerned, particularly in the rural sector and in the informal economy, cooperate fully in formulating employment policies. Please also provide information on the working and the activities of the two tripartite steering committees set up in June 2007.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2008.]