Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

1. The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending September 1996 and the information it contains in reply to its previous request. The Committee notes with interest that, in the framework of the Programme for Human Resources Development and campaign against poverty and with UNDP/ILO technical cooperation, the Government has undertaken to formulate an active employment policy. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply in its next report information as detailed as possible on the implementation of this policy, in reply to the questions on the report form.

2. In particular, the Committee requests the Government to describe the progress accomplished in establishing an employment information service. Please provide any available statistical data on the level and trends in employment, unemployment and underemployment, both at global level and in regard to particular categories of the active population such as women and young people. Please supply copies of the relevant studies mentioned in the report.

3. The Committee notes the objectives and results of the job creation programmes of the Mauritanian Agency for the Implementation of Public Works for Employment (AMEXTIPE). Please continue to provide information on execution of these programmes, indicating to what extent they provide their beneficiaries with lasting employment.

4. In regard to the effect given to Article 3 of the Convention, the Committee notes that the social partners have been associated in formulating the employment policy and that tripartite commissions have been established for this purpose. Noting also that a "general employment conference" was held in 1997, it would be grateful if the Government would supply its main conclusions. In this respect, the Committee recalls that representatives of the sectors concerned, and particularly employers' and workers' representatives, should be consulted during both the formulation and implementation of employment policies. In addition, in view of their share in the active population, it would seem appropriate that representatives of the rural sector and the informal sector should also be included in these consultations. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate whether procedures have been adopted or are contemplated in order to give full effect to this important provision of the Convention.