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1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes once again with interest the detailed information included in the report received in August 2007. The report contains the information requested in the report form and in the response to the direct request of 2006. During the period covered by the report, the Dominican Republic – Central America – United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) had entered into force and the reduction of the external debt service had continued under the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative. Furthermore, in February 2007, the programme supported by the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility of the International Monetary Fund had concluded, with the negotiation of a new agreement with the multilateral financial institutions. Although the official unemployment rate of urban areas had decreased (down from 4.9 per cent in 2006 to 4.1 per cent in May 2007), one third of the active population was unemployed. The Committee hopes that the next report will include an assessment of the impact of the trade agreements and the new measures adopted to reduce and alleviate the external debt service, reduce poverty and create productive employment. The report should also make it possible to assess the impact of the programmes mentioned by the Government in its report to improve the employment opportunities of women and men seeking productive employment.

2. Part V of the report form. ILO technical assistance. The Government indicates in its report that the National Plan for the Generation of Decent Employment had been made into a State policy, as a strategic planning instrument to be used in the strategy to reduce poverty. The Committee asks the Government to provide in its next report a list of the results achieved by the National Plan for the Generation of Decent Employment, as well as for the other programmes that had received the technical assistance of the ILO, in particular those intended to promote employment for young persons and to promote the Convention’s goal of creating productive employment.

3. Employment for young persons. In response to the previous request, the Government reports that there are approximately 8,000 unemployed or underemployed young persons aged 18 to 29 years who are seeking work and have at least three years of schooling. It also states that 436 young persons were selected as beneficiaries for training under the “My first job” programme. The training centres (CECAP) had been invited to participate in training activities. According to data published by the ILO in Labour Overview 2007, approximately seven of every ten employed young persons in Latin America in 2006 were employed in occupations that had no health coverage or retirement benefits, and this proportion for Honduras and Nicaragua was over 82 per cent. In its previous reports, the Government made reference to initiatives to promote the employment of young persons with a component entitled “first job for youth at risk” intended to achieve the placement of approximately 6,000 poor young persons from urban areas. The Committee reiterates its interest in examining the information on the manner in which the programmes intended to reduce violence and insecurity have contributed to an increase in productive employment of young persons. The Committee once again invites the Government to provide information on the measures taken by the National Institute of Vocational Training and the National Centre for Technical Education for Work intended to improve the opportunities for professional and vocational training and promote the creation of new enterprises and business opportunities.

4. Export processing zones. The Committee notes the detailed information provided on employment in the maquila sector. Some 5,882 new jobs had been created in the maquila sector in 2005. The reduction in the participation of women was the result of the diversification of economic activities which currently includes the manufacture of vehicle parts, wooden furniture, electronic accessories and trade. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the contribution of export processing zones to the creation of lasting and quality employment.

5. Article 3. Participation of the social partners. In its report the Government indicates that spaces for dialogue have been re-established where all manner of policies, measures and actions intended to promote the sustainable and progressive development of the country were jointly discussed, analysed and approved with representatives of the three social partners. The Committee refers to its previous comments and requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the consultations held in the Social and Economic Council with regard to employment policies. The report should also include information on the consultations held with representatives of the rural sector, informal economy and maquila sector on the matters covered by the Convention.