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1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee takes note of the replies to the 2005 observation contained in the Government’s report received in September 2006. The Government states in its report that the number of jobseekers registered at employment offices had decreased from 154,165 citizens to 19,894 at the end of 2005 due to the measures taken to encourage young persons in setting up small and medium enterprises in various economic sectors, both in the production sector or in services, and by encouraging projects through the provision of loans by the national financial institutions. The Committee also notes the data provided by the Government indicating that the percentage of women’s participation rate has increased from 15.65 per cent in 1995 to 29.59 per cent in 2006. The Committee hopes that the Government will give priority in its plans and programmes to the objectives of full and productive employment and that it will provide detailed information in its next report on the manner in which the employment objectives set out in its plans have been achieved. Please continue to provide information on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment, both in the aggregate and as they affect particular categories of workers such as women, young persons and older workers. The Committee also encourages the Government to monitor its small and medium-sized enterprises promotion programmes and to assess their employment impact taking into account the orientations provided for by the Job Creation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Recommendation, 1998 (No. 189).

2. Labour market policies and training. The Government indicates in its report that measures are also being undertaken in order to provide training and rehabilitation to approximately 73,095 citizens whose skills do not match those required by the various occupations with job openings needed in the labour market. The Committee reiterates its interest to examine information on the training measures and their impact on the employment of the persons concerned and requests the Government to indicate in its next report the results of these measures aimed at increasing the participation rate of women and young workers. The Committee also encourages the Government to monitor that its current training is responsive to labour market demands taking into account the principles established by the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), and the Human Resources Development Recommendation, 2004 (No. 195), concerning education, training and lifelong learning.

3. Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. In reply to previous comments, the Government indicates that the General Union for Producers and the Federation of Chambers of Agriculture, Commerce and Trade, the Council of Employers and the Federation of Skilled Workers participate through joint technical committees in different sectors in preparing economic and social plans, and in formulating the general policy for employment. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on any recommendation made by the above joint technical committees in relation to the formulation and implementation of employment measures. It further asks the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that representatives of the rural sector and the informal economy are also associated with the consultations required by Article 3 of the Convention.