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1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in October 2008, including detailed replies to the Committee’s previous comment. The Committee notes that, according to information published by the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova, the rate of unemployment increased from 3.6 per cent in the third quarter of 2008 to 3.9 per cent in the following quarter. The Government indicates that it endorsed the National Employment Strategy for 2007–15, which seeks to achieve four long-term objectives: (i) to achieve sustainable economic growth and reduce poverty by strengthening social cohesion and equity in the labour market; (ii) to improve the Republic of Moldova’s competiveness by enhancing human capital and workers’ adaptability to the changing requirements of the labour market; (iii) to align the Republic of Moldova’s human and economic development standards to European benchmarks and to provide minimum living standards in line with the principles enshrined in ratified international conventions; and (iv) to adjust the national regulatory framework to the objectives and targets set forth by the EU Employment Strategy. The Committee notes that the National Employment Strategy provides, inter alia, for policy priorities to promote employment and to ensure sustainable growth. In this regard, the Government intends to pursue a mix of active and passive labour market policies to increase employment and to prevent unemployment and inactivity through policy actions focused on the introduction of individualized employment services early on in the unemployment period; the provision of relevant and timely labour market information; the reform of the unemployment benefit system; and the implementation of active labour market programmes to address the needs of the most vulnerable groups of the population. The Government indicates that the Ministry of Economics and Trade was tasked with developing annual national plans of action on employment, and for implementing the labour market policies under the Strategy. In so doing, due regard is given to the recommendations of the Country Report on Employment Policies developed by the Council of Europe and the ILO. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the policies pursued in the context of the National Employment Strategy, and to provide information on the effect such policies have had on the promotion of employment.

2. Labour market information. The Government indicates that, from 2006 to 2008, the National Employment Agency has made substantial efforts to create a labour market information system. The Government also launched the Governmental portal on the labour market in 2008, which includes information aimed at coordinating demand and supply of jobs, and improving external communication on matters relating to the labour market. The Government indicates that statistical data generated by the labour market information system are included in the statistics on registered unemployment, and are used to plan activities of the National Employment Agency and its territorial agencies. The data are also used in the development of national plans of action on national and territorial employment. The Committee requests the Government to include in its next report statistics on the situation and trends in employment, specifying the manner in which the collected data are used to determine and review employment policy measures.

3. Youth employment. The Committee notes from information published by the National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova that, in 2007, 79.3 per cent of the population aged between 15 to 24 years were economically inactive. The Government indicates that, in response to the high rate of youth unemployment, it endorsed in 2008 the “Programme of action dedicated to the Year of Youth”, which contains a set of measures addressing the professional reintegration of youth, and the “National programme for youth economical rehabilitation”, which provides for the provision of financial support to youths seeking to set up their own businesses. The Government indicates that the National Employment Agency developed a plan of action in 2008 to implement the Programme of action dedicated to the Year of Youth, and in this context offers various services to young persons. In 2007, 17,572 young persons participated in professional orientation activities, representing 61 per cent of all participants. The Committee also notes that a job fair for youth was organized which offered 24,000 jobs in different sectors of the national economy. The Committee would welcome receiving more information on the policies pursued which are aimed at improving access of youth to employment. In this regard, the Committee also asks for information on the results achieved following the implementation of the Programme of action dedicated to the Year of Youth.

4. Persons with disabilities. The Government refers to the adoption of Decision No. 459 in April 2007 by which the rehabilitation and integration programme of persons with disabilities for 2007–09 was endorsed. In this regard, the Government indicates that the “Labour Club” is one means by which it seeks to provide assistance to improving the employment prospects of persons with disabilities facing long-term unemployment, as well as to other vulnerable categories of workers. Based on their involvement in the Labour Club in 2006 and 2007, respectively, 40 and 38 persons with disabilities received assistance to determine their professional activities and received training on methods and techniques for job searches. In 2006 and 2007, the employment agencies registered 360 and 448 persons with disabilities respectively, of whom 41 and 102 persons were eventually employed. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the labour market measures developed and pursued with a view to addressing the needs of persons with disabilities, and to provide further information on the results of such activities in promoting access to the open labour market.

5. Victims of trafficking. The Government refers to the law of 20 October 2005 on preventing and combating trafficking of human beings, and the governmental Decision No. 472 of 26 March 2008 in which it endorsed the national plan on prevention and combating trafficking of human beings for
2008–09. The Government indicates that the National Employment Agency is actively implementing the national plan within the national system of referral. Through its territorial structures, the National Employment Agency is also undertaking actions to assist the victims of trafficking of human beings together with international organizations and NGOs. The Committee also notes that a project aimed at “eliminating human trafficking from the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine through labour market based measures” is being implemented which includes, among other things, the establishment of three information centres on migration within the territorial agencies in Chisinau, Balti and Cahul. Such information centres will disseminate information on integration, the local labour market and the risks of irregular migration. The Committee refers to its comments in respect of the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), and invites the Government to continue to provide information on the action taken within the framework of an active employment policy to prevent abuse in the recruitment of labour and the exploitation of migrant workers in the Republic of Moldova, and the results thereof.

6. Consultations with social partners. The Government indicates that it is seeking to improve the management and organization of the National Employment Agency, and for the development of further measures to promote social partnership in respect of labour market measures. Between January 2006 and June 2008, ten meetings of the board of directors, and 400 meetings of the consultative councils at the territorial level were held to discuss measures to be taken by the National Agency in implementing the plan of action, the projects of the unemployment budget fund, the achievements of running the territorial employment programmes, and other such matters. The Government also indicates that it has concluded bilateral cooperative agreements with the Labour Inspection, the National Confederation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Moldova, and the National Union of Students and Youth of the Republic of Moldova with a view to improving joint actions to ensure the implementation of legislation in force. The Committee also notes that, within the context of the Republic of
Moldova–Sweden project “granting support to public employment services in the Republic of Moldova”, two workshops were held with the directors of territorial employment agencies which sought to address means to improve social dialogue in the labour market and to develop a communication strategy. As a result of these workshops, steps are being taken to develop a strategy and a plan of action which is due to be examined by the Administrative Council of the National Employment Agency. The Committee would welcome receiving more information on the manner in which consultations on matters covered by the Convention are ensured, including any examples of the questions addressed and the decisions reached through the tripartite boards and committees that exist in the country. Please also indicate any measures taken or contemplated to involve the representatives of other sectors of the active population, such as persons working in the rural sector or the informal economy, in such consultations.

7. Part V of the report form. ILO technical assistance. The Committee notes that the Republic of Moldova–ILO Plan of Cooperation for 2006–07 provided for a national programme focused on the development of employment, labour market policies, and programmes that meet national needs and the standards of the European Union. The Committee notes that, as a result of these activities, suggestions and recommendations for improving the organizational structure of the National Employment Agency, activities and services have been drawn up. The Committee also notes information provided on other technical assistance activities which are being carried out in the Republic of Moldova with the bilateral assistance of other governments. In this regard, the Committee notes that a Republic of Moldova–Sweden project was established in 2006 which is aimed at providing support to public employment services in the Republic of Moldova through, inter alia, establishing three pilot centres in Chisinau, Cahul and Soroca, aimed at integrating vulnerable persons into the labour market. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the results achieved from these technical assistance activities in terms of employment creation and improved access to the labour market.