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1. Formulation and implementation of education and training policies. The Committee notes the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention received in September 2008. The Government refers briefly to the relevant provisions of the Labour Code and the Law on Employment, the General Law on Education and the Law on Adult Education, which were attached to its report. The Committee notes that the adjustment of the education system to labour market needs is one of the objectives of the National Strategy for Employment and Human Resources Development 2007–11 in line with the recommendations set out in the Country Review of Employment Policy on Montenegro prepared by the ILO and the Council of Europe in 2007. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report on Convention No. 142 detailed information on the impact of the measures taken under the National Strategy for Employment and Human Resources Development 2007–11, so as to ensure that: (i) vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes take due account of employment needs, opportunities and problems, thereby improving the integration between work and learning; and (ii) there is coordination between vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes and the strategies for poverty reduction and promotion of social inclusion (Article 1(1) to (4) of the Convention).

2. Coverage by the vocational training system of vulnerable groups. The Committee notes that the reform of the vocational education and training system in Montenegro is not yet complete and that there are still significant gaps in the existing vocational training programmes as concerns the integration into the labour market of women workers or workers belonging to vulnerable groups. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report on Convention No. 142 detailed information on the impact of the reform of the vocational education and training system so as to ensure that: (i) access to active labour market policies is improved for women, young workers and workers belonging to ethnic minorities; and (ii) the number of programmes for vocational training and requalification of unemployed persons with disabilities and of older workers are increased.

3. Article 4. Lifelong training. The Committee notes that, in its National Strategy, the Government refers to the need to increase the level and quality of adult education and training services and envisages the adoption of measures aiming at promoting the culture of lifelong learning at the level of society and among the adult population. The Committee asks the Government to report on the measures taken to implement adult education and training and lifelong learning reforms so as to introduce employment-oriented approaches, in particular those measures targeting low skilled workers and the long-term unemployed.

4. Article 5. Cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations. In its report, the Government indicates that the social partners are consulted over the formulation of laws and regulations concerning vocational education and training as well as professional orientation. The Committee also notes that in its National Strategy, the Government recognizes the need to increase the participation of the social partners and the private sector in the design and planning of training programmes. The Committee asks the Government to include in its next report information on the measures taken in order to ensure that vocational education and training policies and programmes are formulated and implemented in cooperation with the social partners.