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The Committee notes the statistical data on the implementation of active labour market policy measures provided in the Government’s report received in August 2008 in reply to its 2007 direct request. The Committee also notes the Government’s reply to the questionnaire concerning the General Survey on employment (2010) received in May 2009 and the information supplemented by the ILO employment specialists in the field.

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Employment trends and active labour market policies. The Government indicates that significant progress was made in 2007 and 2008 as the number of employed persons rose considerably. In 2007, 506,804 unemployed workers were placed by the National Employment Agency through the implementation of its Programme for Employment 2004–08. This positive trend appeared to be confirmed by the results registered during the first quarter of 2008 when 130,911 persons were placed. The Committee notes that over the reporting period, the country experienced economic growth with no relevant improvements in the employment rate, which remained below 60 per cent. The Committee further notes that, under the National Reform Programme 2007–10, the Government intends to continue its efforts to improve employment levels and to diminish unemployment through an integrated approach based on coordination between employment, education and training, and social inclusion policies. Under the National Reform Programme, special focus has been placed on the most vulnerable categories of workers (young persons, long-term unemployed, persons with disabilities and individuals belonging to Roma minorities) and incentives for employers to support in-house training programmes. From the data received, it appears that a relevant percentage of the jobs created as a result of the implementation of active labour market policies might concern short-term placements. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the results achieved through the implementation of the measures taken under the National Reform Programme 2007–10 as far as employment promotion is concerned, particularly as to whether the workers placed through active employment programmes implemented by the National Employment Agency are enjoying lasting and productive employment.

2. Education and training policies. The Government indicates that vocational training represents the most relevant measure for employment promotion as diversification of skills allows the labour force to adapt to current and future labour market demands. Under the national plan for vocational training formulated annually by the National Employment Agency, 55,150 persons were expected to benefit from training programmes in 2008. The Committee notes that the main objective of the strategy for continuing vocational training 2005–10, elaborated in collaboration with the social partners, is to raise the participation rate in education and training programmes for the working population in the   25–64 age group to 7 per cent. In this connection, the Committee notes that adult participation in education and training is still low. It further notes that, on the basis of the information provided on job placements during the reporting period, less than 10 per cent of the newly employed young workers and less than 7 per cent of the long-term unemployed, found a job as a result of their participation in vocational training programmes. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information concerning training programmes for the unemployed and other categories of vulnerable workers. It invites the Government to include information on measures envisaged or adopted in collaboration with the social partners in order to enhance the quality and labour market relevance of the education and training system.

3. Youth employment. The Committee notes that the youth unemployment rate has remained persistently above 20 per cent since 2002. Young persons lack basic skills, as weaknesses persist in the education system and active labour market policies lack effectiveness. The Government indicates that the National Employment Agency has focused its action on the insertion of disadvantaged groups into the labour market with particular attention to low-skilled young persons by providing training opportunities as well as vocational career information and guidance. Financial incentives have been provided to employers to support the employment of students during school holidays. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the impact of the measures designed to facilitate the transition of young persons into employment and to combat youth unemployment.

4. Persons with disabilities. The Government refers to a new bill concerning the protection and promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities enacted in 2006. The Committee notes that a project concerning the creation of career orientation services for persons with disabilities, based on funds provided by the World Bank, has led to the establishment, by the National Employment Agency, of eight pilot orientation centres at the departmental level. The creation of 12 other centres was approved in 2007. The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the results achieved in respect of the integration of persons with disabilities into the open labour market.

5. Promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises. The Government has envisaged, under the National Reform Programme 2007–10, the adoption of a set of measures aimed at increasing the participation rate of small and medium-sized enterprises in public procurement, facilitating their access to credit, reducing administrative barriers to their creation, and developing training programmes to enhance entrepreneurial capacities of young persons and women. The Committee notes with interest that the national legislation for small and medium-sized enterprises has been harmonized with the provisions of the Job Creation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Recommendation, 1998 (No. 189). The Committee invites the Government to supply further information in its next report on the results of the measures adopted with a view to supporting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises for employment creation.

6. Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Government recalls that, under the existing legal framework, the social partners are to be consulted on the preparation of bills, strategies, policies and programmes on employment and human resources development issues, through a number of tripartite bodies: the National Commission for Employment Promotion, the governing body of the National Employment Agency, as well as the National Council for Adult Vocational Training and its sectoral committees. Furthermore, a National Observatory for Employment and Vocational Training has been set up within the Ministry of Labour to foster cooperation between the social partners, public institutions, universities and professional associations in the collection and analysis of labour market information. The development of public and private partnerships between institutions operating in the field of employment and vocational training is also encouraged under the new statutes of the National Employment Agency, approved in 2006. The Committee would welcome receiving further information in the Government’s next report on the consultations held with the social partners, including concrete examples on the manner in which the views of the social partners, including of representatives of those working in the rural sector and the informal economy, are sufficiently taken into account in the development, implementation and review of employment policies and programmes.