Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the Government's report and the useful information that it contains in reply to its previous request. It notes that, according to government estimates, 19.6 per cent of the active population was without employment at the end of 1995 and that unemployment continues principally to affect young school-leavers and unskilled workers. The Committee also notes that, of the persons who are without employment, only 20.7 per cent were registered with the employment services and that the registered unemployment rate was 5.4 per cent. It recalls that, under Article 1 of the Convention, the employment policy shall aim at ensuring that there is work for all who are available for and seeking work. In this respect, it would be grateful if the Government would describe the measures that have been taken or are envisaged to facilitate access to employment services by all persons who are seeking employment. Please continue to supply information on the number of persons who are placed in employment by the employment services.

2. The Committee notes that the Government's Plan of Action has the objective of progressively reducing the unemployment rate to under 5.8 per cent by the year 2000 and between 3.5 and 4 per cent in 2010. The National Unemployment Reduction Programme adopted for this purpose provides for the creation of 120,000 job opportunities and for the training or retraining of 160,000 people. The Committee notes the statement that the employment policy formulated in the framework of this programme will have to be associated with structural, investment and social and economic policy. The Committee requests the Government to describe in its next report, as requested in the report form adopted by the Governing Body, the manner in which the measures adopted under the general economic policy contribute to combating unemployment. Please, in particular, describe the impact that privatizations have had or are expected to have on employment. Please also indicate the measures adopted to coordinate education and training policies with prospective employment opportunities.

3. The Committee notes the information on the jobs that have been created through the provision of preferential loans by the Employment Fund, and on the organization of public works. It notes with interest that technical assistance has been received from the competent ILO multidisciplinary advisory team in this respect. It requests the Government to continue supplying information on the implementation of the various employment creation and training measures, and particularly on measures that are specially intended for categories of the population that are identified as being particularly vulnerable, such as women with family responsibilities, young persons and persons with disabilities (see also point V of the report form).

4. The Committee notes the statement that economic and social policies, including employment and industrial relations, are the subject of tripartite social dialogue. With reference to its previous requests, it asks the Government to describe the manner in which representatives of the persons affected are consulted in practice concerning employment policies, as required by Article 3 of the Convention. Please describe the procedures and institutions established for this purpose.