Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 1997, publiée 86ème session CIT (1998)

1. The Committee took note of the Government's report for the period ending June 1996, which describes the main trends in employment and provides some more detailed information on the number of beneficiaries of active labour market policy measures. Supplemented by the data published by the OECD, the report demonstrates an acceleration during the period in employment growth. The accompanying upturn in activity rates has, however, lessened the reduction in unemployment rates, from 5.4 per cent in 1994 and 1995 to 4.9 per cent in 1996.

2. With reference to its previous observation, in which it noted with interest the information provided by the Government in its report on its economic strategy for the promotion of growth, competitiveness and employment, the Committee hopes that the Government will provide, in its future reports, the information necessary to assess the manner in which the measures taken with a view to promoting full employment are decided and kept under review "within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy" and in consultation with the representatives of the persons affected, in accordance with Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. In particular, it requests the Government to provide the information required in the report form on the manner in which the measures taken, in areas such as budgetary and monetary policy, investment policy and incomes policy, help to further employment aims. Noting that the scope of the active labour market policy measures has been reduced during the period in line with the decrease in unemployment, the Committee invites the Government to provide any assessment available of the effectiveness of the measures implemented towards the effective and lasting integration of their beneficiaries into employment. It also reiterates its interest in obtaining any information on the manner in which the unemployment benefit scheme is coordinated with employment policy.