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Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Employment trends and active labour market policies. The Committee notes the detailed statistical data provided in the Government’s report received in August 2010. The Government indicates that, due to the effects of the economic and financial crisis, the unemployment rate increased significantly and rapidly from 4 per cent in 2008 to 6.3 per cent in 2009. As a result, 572,974 persons were unemployed in 2009 compared to 362,429 persons in 2008. In the first trimester of 2010, the unemployment rate reached 8.2 per cent (756,214 persons unemployed). The Government indicates that the Programme for Employment 2008–10 has been launched, which among its general objectives entails labour market flexibility, an employment rate increase and the promotion of social inclusion. Specific objectives of the programme include: combating effects of unemployment, inclusion of disadvantaged groups in the labour market, increasing the adaptability of workers to labour market needs and ensuring non-discrimination in the labour market. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the impact of the Programme for Employment 2008–10 on ensuring the objectives of the Convention. It also invites the Government to include an evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of policies and measures adopted, especially in the crisis context, for promoting full employment and how they will translate into productive and lasting employment for the unemployed and other categories of vulnerable workers.

Vulnerable categories of workers. The Government indicates that including disadvantaged groups and ensuring non-discrimination in the labour market are amongst the Programme for Employment 2008–10 objectives. Data provided by the Government regarding results of the Programme for Employment 2008–10, shows that the third most common category of employed individuals were persons with disabilities (1,061 persons employed in 2008, 582 in 2009 and 164 in 2010). Approximately 25 per cent of persons with disabilities were employed by enterprises which benefited from subsidies for employing this category of workers. The Government also provides statistics on other vulnerable categories such as older workers, unemployed heads of households and socially marginalized groups employed by enterprises which received subsidies or as a result of their participation in job fairs specifically designed for vulnerable categories of workers. The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the results achieved with respect to the sustainable integration of vulnerable categories of workers, such as persons with disabilities and older workers, into the open labour market.

Youth employment. The Government indicates that, in the framework of the implementation of the National Programme for Employment 2008–10, young persons had the highest employment rate among all target groups. Young graduates (generally having completed higher education) accounted for 1.5 per cent of the total number of persons employed as a result of financial incentives to enterprises that support student employment. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the impact of measures designed to increase opportunities for young people to find lasting employment, in particular those experiencing the highest level of multiple disadvantage, e.g. coming from poor households, with low levels of education and being socially excluded.

The Roma minority. The Government indicates that, in the framework of the Programme for Employment 2008–10, 6,686 individuals belonging to the Roma minority (3,660 persons in 2008, 2,322 in 2009 and 704 in 2010) obtained employment through the subsidized programme for temporary employment in community services. As a consequence of orientation and guidance services, 3,009 Romas were employed in 2008, 1,274 in 2009 and 431 in 2010. As a result of their participation in job fairs specifically designed for individuals belonging to the Roma minority, 683 Romas obtained employment in 2008 and 113 in 2009. In its 2010 General Survey concerning employment instruments, the Committee noted that active labour market policies now occupy centre stage in employment policies among industrialized countries. They are now deployed to achieve multiple objectives: to increase the employed labour force and thereby reduce dependence on unemployment benefits and other forms of social support, to increase social cohesion (or reduce social exclusion) and to ensure greater equality of opportunities in the world of work. The Committee observed that social exclusion is harmful to those directly affected and breeds negative social consequences across generations (paragraphs 554 and 566 of the General Survey). On this important issue, the Committee asks the Government to report in detail on the impact of the action taken within the framework of active employment policies and measures to increase social cohesion of the Roma minority.

Education and training policies. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the main objective of the strategy for continuing vocational training 2005–10 was to raise the participation rate in education and training programmes for the working population in the 25–64 age group to 7 per cent. It noted that adult participation in education and training was still low. The Committee notes that only about 5 per cent of newly employed young workers and approximately 10 per cent of the long-term unemployed (including young persons and adults) obtained employment as a result of their participation in vocational training programmes. The Committee requests the Government to include in its next report information on the impact of the measures adopted in collaboration with the social partners to enhance the quality and labour market relevance of the education and training system. It again requests the Government to supply information on the impact of training programmes on creating job opportunities for the unemployed, young persons, the Roma and other categories of vulnerable workers.

Promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises. The Committee noted that the national legislation for small and medium-sized enterprises was in line with the provisions of the Job Creation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Recommendation, 1998 (No. 189). The Government indicates that 458 persons were employed between 2008 and the first trimester of 2010 by small and medium-sized enterprises which received subsidies for creating employment. Furthermore, 593 individuals in 2008, 869 in 2009 and 168 in 2010, started businesses as a result of orientation and guidance services for self-employment and entrepreneurship. The Committee invites the Government to continue to supply information on the sustainable impact of the measures adopted with a view to supporting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises for employment creation.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Committee previously noted the Government’s information that under the existing legal framework, the social partners are to be consulted on the preparation of bills, strategies, policies and programmes for employment and human resources development issues through the National Commission for Employment Promotion, the governing body of the National Employment Agency and the National Council for Adult Vocational Training and its sectoral committees. Furthermore, a National Observatory for Employment and Vocational Training was set up within the Ministry of Labour to foster cooperation between social partners, public institutions, universities and professional associations in the collection and analysis of labour market information. The Committee invites the Government to supply information on consultations held with the social partners, including concrete examples on the manner in which the views of the social partners are sufficiently taken into account in the development, implementation and review of employment policies and programmes.