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1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Employment trends and active labour market policies. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in October 2007 including replies to the 2005 direct request. It further notes the Socio-Economic Agenda, Israel 2008–10, prepared by the National Economic Council which includes two primary goals: to reduce poverty while encouraging growth and to create leverages for balanced, long-term growth. More specifically, the first goal is to reduce the incidence of poverty among Israeli families to a rate of 17.2 per cent by the end of 2010, compared to 20.2 per cent in 2007. The National Economic Council also indicates in the Agenda that young workers who will join the labour market in five–ten years will arrive with clear disadvantages in education, health and other skills needed to utilize their production potential. The Government indicates that a programme, Orot Letaasuka (formerly the Wisconsin Programme), is being implemented to integrate recipients of benefits in the workforce. According to statistics provided by the Government, the unemployment rate decreased from 10.4 per cent in 2004 and 9 per cent in 2005 to 8.4 per cent in 2006. The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on the effects of active labour market measures implemented and on achieving the employment goals listed in the Socio-Economic Agenda. It would also like information on the manner in which poverty reduction is specifically addressed in programmes and policy measures.

2. Furthermore, the Government indicates that, within the scope of the reform of the Employment Service, periodic, measurable performance targets were set in January 2004, and the increase in the employment volume was examined on a monthly and quarterly basis. In order to bring about a real increase in the number of jobs, employees of the Employment Service were remunerated according to output. Further to these incentives, there was a 29.9 per cent increase in the volume of job orders in 2004 as compared to 2003, while the volume of job placements increased by 23.1 per cent. In 2005, the number of job orders increased by 22.3 per cent, while job placements increased by 12.9 per cent. In 2006, the emphasis was placed on quality placements (meaning that an employee holds a job for at least 90 days). Consequently, there was a very limited increase in 2006, 1.4 per cent, in the number of job orders, and a drop of 8.5 per cent in the volume of job placements. Actions taken within the scope of the reform of the Employment Service include: employee training to improve the handling of jobseekers; information kiosks set up at employment bureaus; the creation of a job search web site; and a change to the interviewing process. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing information on the progress made by the switch to the quality placement model of the Employment Service and how the reform of the Employment Service will translate into productive and lasting employment opportunities for the unemployed.

3. Specific categories of vulnerable workers. The Government indicates that the National Insurance Institute is implementing activities targeting specific categories of vulnerable workers. As indicated in a December 2006 document published by the Institute, the goal of the Reshet Model, Continual Occupational Services Programme, was the integration of Ethiopian income-support recipients into the labour market by strengthening their qualifications to compete for jobs. The Committee notes the high rate of employment of the programme’s participants, approximately 75 per cent, as compared to 32 per cent among candidates who did not join the programme. The Committee asks the Government to provide in it next report detailed information on the impact of measures designed to encourage and support employment levels of vulnerable categories of workers such as Ethiopian jobseekers, older workers and persons with disabilities.

4. Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Government indicates that the employment policy of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour’s Employment Service is formulated as a collaborative effort, through constant consultation, particularly with employers’ organizations. At the formal level, in the Employment Service Council, employers’ organizations, as well as labour organizations constituting an integral part of the Council, are also consulted. The Government further indicates that the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour’s Vocational Training Division routinely consults with employers’ organizations and professional unions. The Committee asks the Government to include in its next report information on the manner in which the consultations held by the Employment Service Council as well as by the National Economic Council have contributed to the implementation of an active employment policy within the meaning of the Convention.