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Implementation of an active employment policy. The Government reports that, similar to the years 2005–06, one of the main objectives of the employment policy in the years 2007–08 had been, inter alia, to increase employment and improve its quality, decrease the unemployment rate and improve human capital. At the end of May 2008 the overall number of unemployed had decreased to 1.5 million persons and the registered unemployment rate was 10 per cent. In this regard, the Committee notes the increased efficiency of the employment services achieved through further decentralization, as laid down in the National Reform Programme 2005–08. It also notes a further improvement in the cooperation between the public authorities and the social partners and their consultation on budgetary matters and matters concerning education and vocational training. Furthermore, NGOs – including representatives of organizations of the unemployed – were included on the voivodeship level. The National Action Plan for Employment 2008 re-emphasizes the Government’s endeavours to reintegrate vulnerable groups, such as persons with disabilities and workers over 50 years of age, into the workforce, resulting in 674,300 unemployed being provided with active labour market programmes in 2007. While persons with disabilities benefited significantly from these programmes, the reintegration of workers above 50 years of age into the labour force, whose share is increasing, remains difficult due to skill mismatches with labour market requirements. The Government further reported that results achieved in 2007 through measures aimed at increasing employment and limiting unemployment proved to be better than anticipated. This was substantially influenced by subsidies received from the European Community and the overall economic conditions. The Committee notes that Poland is continuing its transition from an agricultural to an industrial and service economy but that a large amount of persons were employed in the informal economy (2004: 1.317 million persons) and would thus not appear in the statistics. It further notes that, despite dropping significantly from 13.9 per cent in 2006 to 9.6 per cent by the end of 2007 – the lowest unemployment rate since 1992 – Poland’s overall unemployment rate was still the second highest in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Only in the second quarter of 2008, with 7.3 per cent, the unemployment rate was below the OECD average for Europe of 7.7 per cent. It further notes that, although the participation rate of the population above 15 years of age slightly dropped in 2007 to 53.7 per cent, by the first quarter of 2008 this had risen to 58.3 per cent. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing evaluations in its next report of the impact of the various labour market reform measures undertaken on the current employment situation and the involvement of the social partners in the design and implementation of an active employment policy in accordance with Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention. The Committee further invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the results achieved through active labour market measures to provide employment for the long-term unemployed.

Youth unemployment. The Committee notes that, despite more favourable demographical conditions, the employment rate of persons between 15 and 24 years of age remains low at 25.8 per cent in 2007. Although a significant decrease of 8.1 percentage points in the youth unemployment rate had been achieved, at the end of May 2008, 23.8 per cent (i.e. 289,000 persons) of employment seekers were below 25 years of age. The Government reports that this was partly caused by this age group’s delayed entry into the labour market due to the continuation of education. The low employment rate would be addressed through various actions outlined in the 2007 Act amending, inter alia, the Act on Employment Promotion and Labour Market Institutions of 2004. In 2007, 268,900 unemployed persons below 25 years of age had participated in active labour market programmes. This is equivalent to 40 per cent of the overall number of unemployed youths, and represents an increase of 14,000 persons, i.e. 5.5 percentage points as compared to 2006. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing detailed information in its next report on the efforts made to improve the employment situation of young persons, and the results achieved in terms of job creation, particularly as a result of the actions adopted under the 2007 Act amending the Act on Employment Promotion and Labour Market Institutions of 2004.

Women. The Committee notes that, despite an increase of 2.9 percentage points, which is on par with that for men, the employment rate among women remains significantly lower than that of men. In 2006, the employment rate for men stood at 67.6 per cent, the employment rate of women was 56.8 per cent. This situation was further reflected in the unemployment rate: in 2007, 889,100 women and 636,500 men were without employment. The Government is aware of the fact that the unemployment rate for women registered in labour offices decreases at a slower pace than that of men. The “activation programmes” launched in 2007 were aimed to remedy this situation. Some 381,000 women benefited from the programme, resulting in an increase of women participating in community services and trainings. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing detailed information in its next report on the efforts made to improve the employment situation of women, and the results achieved in terms of job creation as a result of the 2007 activation programmes.

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The Committee notes the general information contained in the Government’s report received in September 2006.

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Policies to promote employment. The Committee notes from the data supplemented by the technical units of the Office that the employment rate is slowly continuing to climb to 54.5 per cent in 2006, an increase of 1.6 per cent since the last report. Despite continuing to be one of the highest in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the unemployment rate slowly decreased to 14 per cent in 2006. However, gender gaps in unemployment continued to exist. While the unemployment rate also dropped significantly for the 15–24 age group (29.8 per cent in 2006), young persons continued to be the worst hit by unemployment. The Government reported that the basic employment policy objectives for 2005–06 were to increase labour demand; increase employment growth; reduce unemployment; strengthen active labour market policies; and invest in human capital development. These were to be implemented through the National Action Plan in Favour of Employment 2006 (KPDZ/2006), the KPDZ 2005 and the National Reform Programme 2005–08. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning measures to be taken under the national plans to increase employment for youth, older workers and workers with disabilities. It also notes the improvements to institutional labour market services that are to be implemented by the Government through enhancing the quality of job placement services, vocational guidance services and services within the EURES network; increasing the quality of training services organizations; and supporting geographical and occupational mobility. The Committee requests the Government to provide in its next report further detailed information on the impact of these measures, as well as measures referred to in previous comments, in particular whether these measures have had any impact on reducing the rate of unemployment, in particular for young workers, women workers and older workers. It would also appreciate detailed information on the effectiveness of reforms made in the employment services to increase their efficiency.

2. Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Committee notes that the scope of powers of the Supreme Employment Council has been expanded and covers pronouncing opinions on draft laws in the field of employment promotion and mitigating the effects of unemployment. In this regard, the Committee asks the Government to continue to supply information on the manner in which representatives of the persons affected are consulted concerning employment policies, including information on the consultation held at the regional level on the matters covered by the Convention.

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The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report received in September 2004.

1. Policies to promote employment. The Committee notes from the Government’s report as well as from data supplemented by the technical units of the Office that, after having reached extremely low levels of only 44 per cent of the working age population in employment, which represents the lowest employment rate in the 25 EU Member States, employment showed some signs of recovery towards the end of 2004. At 20 per cent on average in 2003 and 18 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2004, the unemployment rate remained at its highest level since the start of economic transition and is one of the highest in OECD countries, but the rapid pace of economic growth is leading to a slight improvement. The Committee further notes that the unemployment rate among the age group 15-24 was 37 per cent in the last quarter of 2004, over twice the level of the population as a whole. Moreover, gender gaps in unemployment are also significant and there are persistent regional disparities in the level of unemployment.

2. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government concerning the law on pre-retirement benefits, the Government’s strategy "Entrepreneurship-Development-Labour" aimed at a more employment-friendly environment and support of entrepreneurship, the "First Job" programme for young people and the programme "50+" for elderly workers. While taking note of this information, the Committee would appreciate if the Government could provide an assessment of the effectiveness of the respective programmes, including information on the number of participants and the percentage of them who have found regular employment after their participation in these programmes. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on how the measures taken to promote full and productive employment operate within a "framework of a coordinated economic and social policy". It further asks the Government to submit information on the measures taken to increase the employment rate among older workers and to protect workers affected by structural changes in the economy (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest that the Government has held consultations with the social partners on a wide variety of issues, both at the national and regional levels, through the Tripartite Commission for Socio-Economic Issues, various employment councils and the Supreme Employment Council, which has been enlarged to include representatives of voivodship councils as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations of national range. In this regard, the Committee asks the Government to continue to supply information on the manner in which representatives of the persons affected (both in the formal and informal economy and in rural areas) are consulted concerning employment policies including information on the consultation held at the regional level on the matters covered by the Convention (Article 3).

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The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report for the period ending June 2002 and its reply to previous comments.

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Supplemented by data published by the OECD, the report demonstrates that the labour market situation did not improve during the period in question. The unemployment rate continued to increase going from 16.3 per cent in 2000 to 17.8 per cent in 2002. The unemployment rate for women (20 per cent) remains higher than for men (17 per cent). Long-term unemployment continues to be high and is still increasing. In 2001, the share of long-term unemployed was 50 per cent. The rate of youth unemployment is of particular concern, having risen sharply to a level of 38 per cent. The Government indicates that its Economic Strategy for 2002-05, adopted in January 2002, provides for a variety of measures aimed at improving the employment situation, notably amendments to the Labour Code increasing the flexibility of the labour market, which were adopted in July 2002, and programmes such as the First Job Programme stimulating the creation of jobs for school leavers.

2. The Government states that several important changes have been introduced to the law on employment and reducing unemployment. These changes concern, inter alia, a revision of the requisites for receiving unemployment benefits, regulations concerning the right to pre-retirement (bridging allowance) and regulations governing the work of foreigners in Poland. The Committee would appreciate being kept informed of the impact of legislative changes in attaining the objectives of full, productive and freely chosen employment.

3. The Government states that to counteract rising unemployment it has introduced an economic plan entitled "Entrepreneurship-Development-Labour". The Government describes its strategy as aimed at the promotion of economic development, the creation of new productive jobs and a reduction in unemployment. Among the plan’s proposed solutions are: a reduction in labour costs and the establishment of more flexible labour relations; the simplification of the tax system; the simplification of the social insurance system; and the simplification of procedures connected in particular with the establishment of small businesses. The Committee has taken note of this information and trusts that the Government will provide in its next report any available information on the impact of these programmes and their success in attaining their stated objectives.

4. The Government explains that to reduce the extent of unemployment among young persons it has sought to implement the First Job Programme that combines several activities and services. The main aim of the programme is the reduction of unemployment among graduates. The activities planned in the programme focus on the following spheres: promoting graduates’ employment in the SME sector; self-employment promotion; the modification of the educational system; the dissemination of voluntary work; and the development of services in the field of vocational information and guidance, as well as job placement. The Committee notes this information and trusts that the Government will continue to provide information on policies and programmes that address the special needs of vulnerable groups of workers, as well as data on the levels and trends in employment for these groups.

5. Article 3. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee noted that the Government held consultations with the social partners on a wide range of issues through the Tripartite Commission for Socio-Economic Issues and the Supreme Employment Council. Please continue to supply information on the manner in which representatives of the persons affected (representatives of employers and workers in the formal and informal economy and in rural areas) are consulted concerning employment policies.

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The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report for the period 1 July 1998 to 30 June 2000.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. According to the information contained in the Joint Assessment of Employment Priorities in Poland, prepared by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy and the European Commission, unemployment was 10 per cent in the second quarter of 1998, but rose to 15 per cent as of December 2000. Unemployment among young people was almost 38 per cent in 2000, compared with the total average of 14 per cent. Unemployment is higher among women than men (18.5 per cent vs. 15.2 per cent in 2000). Unemployment varies by region, with the highest rates in voivodies with a history of state-owned farming. Long-term unemployment makes up about one-third of total unemployment. And unemployment is highest among people with only a primary education.

2. The Government states that its employment policy objectives include: emphasizing an active policy to support full, productive and freely chosen employment; improving labour office activity; and increasing the effectiveness of measures to decrease unemployment. The Government follows the European Union guidelines on employment, which focus on human resources development, promoting job growth, and ensuring non-discrimination. Priorities for the Plan for 2000-2001 include decreasing labour costs, reforming the tax system, phasing out early retirement, promoting alternative jobs, and allowing a lower minimum wage for first-time jobseekers. The Government is also strengthening employment services through emphasizing quality of service, standardizing staff qualifications, creating a uniform information system, and reforming unemployment benefits. The Government also mentions that it has developed a National Strategy for Employment Development 2000-2006, a Direction of Government Activities towards Small and Medium Enterprises to the year 2002; and a Mid-term Strategy for Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas. In addition it has implemented a system of task contracts between the National Labour Office and the voivodies, where funding will be conditioned on the voivodies achieving precisely defined results. The Committee notes these policies and programmes, and would appreciate receiving further details as they are implemented, including their impact on employment promotion.

3. The Committee would also appreciate receiving further information on the Strategy for Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas; employment promotion programmes for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups; the specific content of active labour market policies; and the coordination of training with prospective employment opportunities.

4. Article 2. The Committee notes that the Government’s report does not contain any evaluation of the outcome of its employment policies and programmes. Please supply information on the measures taken to keep employment promotion policies and programmes under review within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy.

5. Article 3. The Government states that it consults with the social partners on a wide range of issues through the Tripartite Commission for Socio-Economic Issues and the Supreme Employment Council. The Committee notes that the Government’s report lists a range of topics discussed, but does not indicate the outcomes of these discussions. Please continue to supply information on the manner in which representatives of the persons affected (representatives of employers and workers in the formal and informal economy and in rural areas) are consulted concerning employment policies.

6. The Committee notes the information sent by the Board of the West Pomerania Region of the Polish Trade Union of Nurses and Midwives and the Board of the Medical Analytics Technicians Trade Union. The Boards state that in their view the existence of 2.5 million people without jobs demonstrates that the Government does not have an effective employment policy; the Government’s medical health care reforms are decreasing employment; and the Government’s social and economic policies are inconsistent. In reply, the Government states that the regional restructuring programme is approved by the voivodies. Workers are represented at the local levels, on the Regional Steering Committee which approves regional restructuring programmes, and on the National Steering Committee which evaluates the programmes and allocates funding. The programmes include severance packages and loans to workers moving to the private sector. The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the impact of the restructuring on employment and measures taken by the Government to promote employment of the workers affected.

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1. The Committee notes the Government's brief report. It notes with interest that the unemployment rate, which reached almost 17 per cent in 1994, fell rapidly to below 10 per cent in June 1998. Nevertheless, the Government states that it is concerned by the persistence of marked regional disparities in the context of low worker mobility, particularly high levels of unemployment among women and unskilled young people, and the level of long-term unemployment.

2. In its report, the Government indicates the main priorities of its programme to promote productive employment and combat unemployment for 1997-2000. It refers in particular to the reinforcement of the regional and rural development policy, the promotion of the competitiveness of enterprises and the speeding up of educational reforms, but provides no information on the specific measures taken or contemplated in these areas. The only detailed information relates to provisions that have been adopted to make the qualifying conditions for unemployment benefit more restrictive and to allocate a greater proportion of the available resources to financing active labour market policy measures. In this regard, the Committee hopes to find in the Government's next report the information that has already been requested on the manner in which the unemployment benefit policy contributes to achieving the objectives of the Convention. It asks the Government once again to provide comprehensive information on the results of the various active labour market policy measures, such as employment subsidies, public works, loans to support self-employment and training programmes for the unemployed. The Committee also invites the Government to describe the measures taken to reinforce the network of employment services and improve their effectiveness.

3. The Committee recalls that, under Article 2 of the Convention, the measures to be adopted to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment must be adopted "within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy". The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the main thrust of, for example, its monetary, fiscal and exchange rate policies, trade policy, and prices and incomes and wages policies, and indicate how they contribute to the promotion of employment. The Committee also asks the Government to provide full information on the manner in which consultations are carried out, in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, and to indicate the role of the Higher Employment Council in this respect.

4. The Committee refers to its earlier observations made in the context of the follow-up to the conclusions and recommendations of the committee set up to examine the representation alleging non-compliance with the Convention, which were approved by the Governing Body at its 265th Session in March 1996 (document GB.265/12/5). The Committee trusts that the Government's next report will contain all the information necessary to assess the manner in which the Convention is applied.

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The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

The Committee notes the report of the Committee set up to examine the representation made in 1993 under article 24 of the ILO Constitution by the All-Poland Trade Union Alliance (OPZZ), alleging non-observance of the Convention by Poland, which was approved by the Governing Body as its 265th Session in March 1966 (document GB.265/12/5). It also notes the Government's brief report for the period ending June 1966. This report describes a number of changes particularly as regards the employment of graduates, unemployment benefit and the management of regional labour markets. However, the Committee notes that the report does not contain all the information requested by the Governing Body. The Committee also refers to its previous observation and direct request and trusts that the Government's next report will, in addition to the description of the situation and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment during the period under consideration, contain all the information required in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee set up by the Governing Body namely: -- complete and detailed information on the results obtained through the various labour market policy measures that are implemented, with an indication of any shortcomings or difficulties that it may have encountered and the manner in which it proposes to deal with them, and the use it has made of ILO technical cooperation projects and other international technical assistance to promote employment and reduce unemployment; -- a description of how account is taken of employment objectives when general economic and social policy decisions are taken, and complete information in reply to the questions in the report form under Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention; -- complete information on the manner in which the representatives of the persons affected are consulted, particularly in the Higher Employment Council and in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, on all aspects of economic policy which affect the employment market; -- the manner in which the unemployment compensation policy contributes to the pursuit of the Convention's objectives, particularly as regards the planned introduction of an unemployment insurance system. The Committee suggests that the Government remain in contact with the competent services of the ILO, and particularly the multidisciplinary team in Budapest, in order to obtain, where necessary, their technical support in relation to the above matters.

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The Committee notes the report of the Committee set up to examine the representation made in 1993 under article 24 of the ILO Constitution by the All-Poland Trade Union Alliance (OPZZ), alleging non-observance of the Convention by Poland, which was approved by the Governing Body at its 265th Session in March 1996 (document GB.265/12/5). It also notes the Government's brief report for the period ending June 1996. This report describes a number of changes, particularly as regards the employment of graduates, unemployment benefit and the management of regional labour markets. However, the Committee notes that the report does not contain all the information requested by the Governing Body.

The Committee also refers to its previous observation and direct request and trusts that the Government's next report will, in addition to the description of the situation and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment during the period under consideration, contain all the information required in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee set up by the Governing Body, namely:

- complete and detailed information on the results obtained through the various labour market policy measures that are implemented, with an indication of any shortcomings or difficulties that it may have encountered and the manner in which it proposes to deal with them, and the use it has made of ILO technical cooperation projects and other international technical assistance to promote employment and reduce unemployment;

- a description of how account is taken of employment objectives when general economic and social policy decisions are taken, and complete information in reply to the questions in the report form under Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention;

- complete information on the manner in which the representatives of the persons affected are consulted, particularly in the Higher Employment Council and in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, on all aspects of economic policy which affect the employment market;

- the manner in which the unemployment compensation policy contributes to the pursuit of the Convention's objectives, particularly as regards the planned introduction of an unemployment insurance system.

The Committee suggests that the Government remain in contact with the competent services of the ILO, and particularly the multidisciplinary team in Budapest, in order to obtain, where necessary, their technical support in relation to the above matters.

[The Government is asked to provide a detailed report in 1997.]

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The Committee notes that the Governing Body at its 257th Session (June 1993) entrusted the examination of a representation made by the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ), under article 24 of the Constitution, alleging non-compliance by Poland with the Convention, to a tripartite committee. In accordance with its usual practice, the Committee is postponing its comments on the application of the Convention pending the Governing Body's adoption of the conclusions and recommendations of the above-mentioned committee.

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1. With reference to its previous direct request, the Committee has taken note of the full and helpful new information supplied by the Government in its reports, including that on Convention No. 2, which are accompanied in particular by a copy of the "Guidelines of the programme of counteracting the effects of unemployment" of April 1991, the Act of 9 May 1991 on Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation of the Disabled, and the Act of 16 October 1991 respecting Employment and Unemployment. It notes the labour market data which mention an unemployment rate of 9.8 per cent on 31 August 1991. As the Government indicated in its previous report, the transition to the market economy is accompanied by a downward trend in the overall level of employment and, since the beginning of 1991, the process of restructuring the economy has directly contributed to the increase in unemployment. The Government acknowledges, however, that little is known about the pattern of unemployment and that the available information is still inadequate as a basis for decision-making on employment policy measures both at the central level and with a view to the formulation of regional programmes. It indicates that it is endeavouring to prepare regular statistical surveys so as to afford a better knowledge of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the developing labour market. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information in as much detail as possible on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment and to describe the measures taken to improve the procedures for the collection and analysis of statistical data on the labour market.

2. The Government states that, owing to the paucity of the available resources, it is important that measures to combat unemployment should give priority to the regions and population groups most affected. In particular, emphasis should be laid on the development of the employment service network and on training for the unemployed. Subsidies for job-creation and the organisation of public works are contemplated in regions where a large proportion of unskilled workers are threatened with long-term unemployment. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply in its next report detailed information on the active measures taken to combat unemployment and the results achieved. It notes further that an ILO technical cooperation project for the development of employment services (POL/90/MO2/DDA), designed to strengthen the capacity of employment services in the areas of vocational guidance, placement, training and the promotion of employment and self-employment programmes, is in process of execution. Please indicate the action taken as a result of this project (Part V of the report form).

3. The Committee has taken note of the adoption of the Act of 16 October 1991 respecting Employment and Unemployment, which replaces the Employment Act of 29 December 1989. The main changes are concerned with the conditions of qualification for unemployment allowance, which are made more restrictive; the method of fixing the duration and amount of that allowance, which is designed to stimulate an active search for employment; the reintroduction of the obligation to notify the employment services of vacancies; and authorisation for the establishment of private employment agencies. In this connection the Committee refers to its comments on the application of Convention No. 96. The Act further provides for the entry into force with effect from 1 January 1993 of a new organisation of employment councils. Furthermore the Committee has taken note with interest of the provisions of the Act of 9 May 1991 on Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation of the Disabled, and invites the Government to describe the measures designed, pursuant to those provisions, to satisfy the needs of this particular category of workers.

4. The Committee notes the indication that the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy cannot be considered solely responsible for the level of unemployment. Although it is in charge of combating the effects of unemployment, it can only have a limited direct influence on its volume. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the procedures adopted to take the objective of full, productive and freely chosen employment duly into account within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy of transition to the market economy. In particular, please specify the measures taken to that end as regards reform of the system of enterprise ownership and management; budgetary, monetary and exchange rate policies; investment, price, income and wage policies; global, sectoral and regional industrial policies; and policies aimed at balanced regional development, inter alia in agriculture.

5. With reference to its previous direct request, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would specify how the representatives of the persons affected are consulted concerning employment policies in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of the Convention. Please supply information on the advisory activities of the Main Employment Council and on the policies and programmes developed as a result of consultations with representatives of employers' and workers' organisations and with representatives of other sectors of the economically active population such as persons employed in the rural and the informal sector.

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1. The Committee takes note of the detailed information submitted by the Government in its reports. Economic measures and reforms have been implemented to attempt to secure rapid stabilisation of the economy and the transformation of the economic system. With reference to the difficulties encountered in employment, the Government recognises that there is a contradiction between the right to work established by the Constitution and the constant drop in the number of persons employed. The Government states that the problem of the protection of the right to work will be a major component of the measures envisaged. The Committee trusts that the Government will be in a position in its next report to provide information on the progress made in achieving the employment objectives in its development plans and programmes, specifying the particular difficulties encountered in achieving the objectives of full, productive and freely chosen employment, as defined in Article 1 of the Convention. It would be grateful if the Government would provide information on overall and sectoral development policies, particularly measures in such fields as investment policy, fiscal and monetary policy, trade policy, and prices, incomes and wages. The Committee hopes that the report will also contain information on the procedures adopted to ensure that the effects on employment of the measures adopted as part of the stabilisation programmes receive due consideration (Article 2).

2. The Committee notes the data concerning the labour market. Statistics show a drop of 1.5 per cent of the overall employment level between 1989 and 1990 (first semester of each year), despite an increase (3.9 per cent) in the number of workers in the non-socialist sector of the economy. The drop in the overall level of employment is due to reduced employment in the socialist sector of the economy; this trend, which is a result of the transition to a market economy, is likely, according to the Government's report, to continue and even increase. The report also contains statistical data on unemployment which is increasing steadily: it was an estimated 6.9 per cent of employed persons in the national economy (excluding individual farms) at 30 September 1990, and the Government was expecting an estimated 1.2 to 1.3 million unemployed at December 1990. The increase in unemployment particularly affects women and young high school graduates (general technical). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide information on the situation, level and trends of employment, particularly for the branches of activity where employment has declined (see the questions for Article 1 of the Convention in the report form).

3. The Committee takes note of the Employment Act of 29 December 1989 (published by the ILO in the series Social Law Documents 1990/2, 1989-POL 2), which provides for various measures on placement and occupational guidance, unemployment benefit, benefits for workers who have to change domicile to take up a new job, and special measures for disabled workers and migrant workers. The 1989 Act also establishes an Employment Fund destined essentially for the training and retraining of unemployment persons. In its report, the Government indicates that it has asked the ILO for assistance to improve the organisation of the employment services and particularly to train the employees of these services. The Committee welcomes these developments as they will help to ensure better practical knowledge of the international labour standards on employment. It hopes that the Government will provide indications in its next report of the action taken as a result of the ILO technical co-operation projects (Part V of the report form) and, more generally, of the implementation of the measures provided for in the Act of 29 December 1989, particularly in the areas of training, retraining and the social protection of workers who have lost their jobs.

4. In its 1989 direct request, the Committee noted the importance given to handicrafts and individual skills. It notes from the report that it has examined this year that, while as indicated previously, employment has increased in the non-socialist sector of the economy overall, there was a considerable drop in employment in the handicraft sector between 1989 and 1990. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report any particular measures that have been taken or are contemplated to promote the creation of productive jobs in the economic activities engaged in the by self-employed or outside the institutionalised economic structures. In this connection, the Government might find it useful to consult the texts appended to the report form in the Convention (see in particular Chapter V of Recommendation No. 169 on the informal sector).

5. With reference to Chapter V of the above-mentioned Act of 29 December 1989 respecting employment, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would describe the results obtained by measures to promote the employment of the disabled. In formulating its policy in this area, the Government might find some useful suggestions in the appropriate provisions of the 1983 standards on the occupational rehabilitation and employment of the disabled.

6. Please also provide information on the effects of the measures taken in the context of the new legislation for workers entitled to retirement pensions, referring in particular to the use made of part-time work or any other flexible practices.

7. The Committee notes that, according to the information supplied by the Government, employment in agricultural activities in the non-socialist sector dropped by 120,000 units between 1989 and 1990. Please indicate the measures that have been taken or are envisaged to meet the employment and income needs of workers in the agricultural sector.

8. Article 3. The Government indicates in its report that the Economic Foundation of the Trade Union "Solidarity" and the placement offices of the trade unions play and important role in limiting the scale of unemployment. Furthermore, the Committee notes that a central employment council - made up of an equal number of employers' and workers' representatives - is provided for in section 40 of the Employment Act of 29 December 1989. The Committee hopes that the next report will contain information on the advisory activities of this council and on the policies and programmes developed as a result of consultations with representatives of the organisations of employers and workers and of other sectors of the active population, such as persons working in the rural and informal sectors.

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1. The Committee notes the detailed information supplied in the Government's report in reply to its previous direct request. The Government indicates that, during the second period of economic reform, an important objective of employment policy is to promote action to change the current structure of employment. The need to restructure the economy is a result of the demographic situation, the objective of balanced development for the socialist and non-socialist sectors of the economy and the need to redeploy manpower from the productive to the non-productive sphere, by promoting employment, in particular, in the service sector. The Committee notes that developments regarding employment are considered by the Government to be too slow. It hopes that the Government will continue to supply information in this respect and will indicate the extent to which the difficulties that have been encountered have been overcome and supply data on the situation, level and trends of employment in the various economic sectors. Please, in particular, indicate the impact of measures taken regarding prices, incomes and wages policy on employment in the various sectors of the national economy (see the questions in the report form for Article 1 of the Convention).

2. The statistical data supplied by the Government in its report show a slight decrease in employment in the socialist sector between 1986 and 1987. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply information on the branches of activity in which employment has declined. Please indicate whether, in the context of the implementation of the reform of enterprises, a significant number of job losses and enterprise closures are foreseen. Please specify the measures that have been taken or are envisaged to encourage the mobility of the labour force and guarantee suitable employment to redundant workers (Article 1, paragraph 2(c)). Please refer in particular to the adjustment measures that have been taken or are envisaged in certain industrial sectors, such as shipbuilding and steel.

3. Please describe the procedures adopted to guarantee that effects on employment are taken into consideration when economic recovery measures are implemented in Poland and that the main employment policy measures are determined and regularly reviewed in the framework of a co-ordinated economic and social policy (Article 2).

4. The Committee notes the importance given to the role of handicrafts and individual skills. It would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply detailed information on the development of employment in these sectors, specifying the nature of the activities covered, the conditions of employment and the position of persons so occupied under the labour legislation.

5. The Committee notes the measures taken to encourage the employment of specific categories of workers, such as the disabled and the elderly. It would be grateful if the Government would continue describing the efforts undertaken and the results obtained to satisfy the needs of the disabled, basing itself, where appropriate, on the relevant provisions of the 1983 standards on vocational rehabilitation and the employment of the disabled. Please also continue to supply information on the impact of measures to promote the employment of workers who are entitled to retirement pensions, with particular reference to the use of part-time work and other flexible arrangements.

6. The Committee notes the information on employment in the agricultural sector. It notes in particular the significant downward trend in the participation of women in this sector and their migration to towns. Please continue to supply information on employment and production trends in both the socialist and non-socialist agricultural sectors. Please indicate the measures that have been taken or are envisaged to satisfy the needs of women workers in the rural sector and of women who go to find employment in the urban sector.

7. The Committee notes the information supplied concerning vocational guidance. With reference to its comments on the application of Convention No. 142, it requests the Government to continue supplying information on this subject, with emphasis on the measures taken to co-ordinate education and training policies with employment prospects.

8. Article 3. The Committee notes with interest the information supplied in the Government's report concerning the consultation of agricultural trade union organisations and farmers' organisations, in the context of the national consultation system for agricultural questions. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply additional information on the way in which the representatives of the persons concerned by the measures to be taken by both employers' and workers' representative organisations and representatives of other sectors of the active population are consulted within the context of the current economic restructuring process, regarding employment policies.