Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

1. The Committee notes the Government's report in reply to its previous direct request. In its report, the Government expresses its concern at the deterioration in the employment situation following the current restructuring process which is intended to ensure a transition to a market economy system. Employment rationalisation measures in the public sector have resulted in the suppression of existing jobs with very few prospects of the creation of new jobs in the near future. According to the Government, at the beginning of 1991, 3.5 per cent of the active population were unemployed, of which a significant proportion were skilled workers and young persons who had recently left the education system.

2. The Government states that the Ministry of Labour, which has recently been established, is now responsible for employment policy, particularly through the employment department, which is responsible for: examining the situation and trends of employment; formulating policies for the employment of young persons, women and the disabled; and coordinating the activities of the national system of employment services. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply further information in its next report on the establishment and activities of employment offices and on the measures that have been taken or are envisaged in order to ensure that employment policy measures are decided upon on the basis of a detailed knowledge of the situation and trends of employment and unemployment at the local and regional levels for the various categories of the population. It hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to supply detailed statistics on employment, unemployment and underemployment.

3. The Committee notes, among the employment promotion measures referred to by the Government, the organisation of work and measures to promote the development of small enterprises. Please supply information on the nature of these measures and the means by which they are implemented, and their effect on employment evaluated. Please also describe the nature and objectives of the State Employment Fund that it is planned to establish. The Government also indicates that it is planning to undertake a reform of the education and vocational training system in order to provide additional training for young persons leaving the education system and to retrain workers who have lost their jobs. Please supply information on developments in these fields and the measures that have been adopted with a view to coordinating education and training policies with prospective employment opportunities.

4. The Government states that the development of the right of association has permitted the establishment of voluntary organisations to defend the rights of the unemployed and that they have been associated with discussions and measures to promote employment. Please provide information on the nature and objectives of these organisations and on the manner in which they contribute to the formulation and application of employment policies. More generally, please indicate the manner in which, in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, the representatives of the persons affected by the measures to be taken, and in particular representatives of employers and workers, are consulted concerning employment policies.

5. The Committee notes the adoption in April 1991 of the Unemployment Benefit Act. It would be grateful if the Government would supply information on the implementation of this Act, particularly as regards labour market problems and policies.

6. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply with its next report copies of the official texts to which it refers. It would be particularly grateful to be supplied with the text of the decision "concerning certain employment measures", of the decision of November 1990 prohibiting unjustified dismissals, of the new Labour Code adopted in February 1991, and of the above Unemployment Benefit Act.