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Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes the detailed information contained in the Government’s report received in September 2009, in response to the Committee’s 2007 observation. The Government reports that, during the period from 2006 to 2008, 68,300 young unemployed persons up to the age of 25 were registered in the local labour exchange offices. 47,600 young unemployed persons were placed in jobs, and 25,800 young persons participated in active labour market policy measures. During this period, 45,900, i.e. 59 per cent, of employers made use of the local labour exchange offices services. The Government reports that, on 16 June 2009, the Seimas approved the Law Amending the Republic of Lithuania Law on Support for Employment (No. XI-292). Taking into account the effects of the deepening economic crisis that struck in 2008, this new legislation provides for specific measures to: (i) assist companies to avoid an irrational reduction of workplaces; (ii) encourage and support territorial mobility of jobseekers; (iii) support self-employment and entrepreneurship, in particular, the business of large families; and (iv) encourage the development of subsidized jobs and create conditions for accelerating the integration of the long-term unemployed and persons after vocational rehabilitation into the labour market. The Committee welcomes continuing to receive information on measures taken by the public employment services to counter the effects of the economic crisis on jobseekers in the labour market.

Article 3 of the Convention. Development of employment offices throughout the territory. The Committee notes the Implementing Measures of the Programme of the Republic of Lithuania for 2008–12, which provides for the decentralization of labour policy and the delegation of the implementation of labour market policy to regions. The Government reports that discussions are taking place over a decentralised labour market management model which, in order to be implemented, requires that functions of the institution at national level (i.e. the Lithuanian Labour Exchange) and those of regional (county) labour market institutions are defined in order to achieve a more efficient determination and implementation of labour market policy objectives and targets. To this end, the Government also reports that, in 2009, a substantial reconstruction of the management system of the Lithuanian Labour Exchange will be undertaken, which aims to make the Exchange activities more efficient, compliant with the applicable requirements and to ensure the flexible decision-making that is necessary in the situation of an economic downturn. The Committee invites the Government to report on the reform of the Lithuanian Labour Exchange, and the impact of such reform on its performance.

The Committee notes that, in 2008, the Government launched certain labour exchange infrastructure development projects in accordance with the National Lisbon Strategy Implementation Programme 2008–10. To this end, under the Development of Local Labour Exchange Infrastructure in 2007–10 project, construction and/or reconstruction works were carried out in the buildings of Kaišiadorys, Varėna, Zarasai, Šalčininkai, Biržai and Joniškis local labour exchange offices. Local labour exchange offices were established in Kaunas and Plungė. The Committee welcomes continuing to receive information regarding the Implementing Measures of the Programme of the Republic of Lithuania for 2008–12, as well as the programme’s impact on labour market policy.

Article 4. Participation of the social partners. The Government reports that social partners represent their own interests through participation in the activities of the Tripartite Council of the Republic of Lithuania and the tripartite councils (i.e. commissions and committees) of institutions under the Ministry of Social Security and Labour implementing employment support policy. The Committee notes that tripartite councils are formed from an equal number of fully fledged members representing organizations, state and municipal institutions defending the interests of workers and employers. The Committee welcomes continuing to receive information on the outcomes and recommendations made by the tripartite bodies on the operation of the public employment service.