Page image

12

CHAPTER lI.—EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY Article 2 Importance of Employment, Production and Demand in relation to the Purpose of this Charter 1. The Members recognize that the avoidance of unemployment or underemployment, through the achievement and maintenance in each country of useful employment opportunities for those able and willing to work and of a large and steadily growing volume of production and effective demand for goods and services, is not of domestic concern alone, but is also a necessary condition for the achievement of the general purpose and the objectives set forth in Article 1, including the expansion of international trade, and thus for the well-being of all other countries. 2. The Members recognize that, while the avoidance of unemployment or underemployment must depend primarily on internal measures taken by individual countries, such measures should be supplemented by concerted action under the sponsorship of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations in collaboration with the appropriate inter-governmental organizations, each of these bodies acting within its respective sphere and consistently with the terms and purposes of its basic instrument. 3. The Members recognize that the regular exchange of information and views among Members is indispensable for successful co-operation in the field of employment and economic activity and should be facilitated by the Organization. Article 3 Maintenance of Domestic Employment 1. Each Member shall take action designed to achieve and maintain full and productive employment and large and steadily growing demand within its own territory through measures appropriate to its political, economic and social institutions. 2. Measures to sustain employment, production and demand shall be consistent with the other objectives and provisions of this Charter. Members shall seek to avoid measures which would have the effect of creating balance-of-payments difficulties for other countries. Article 4 Removal of Maladjustments within the Balance of Payments 1. In the event that a persistent maladjustment within a Member's balance of payments is a major factor in a situation in which other Members are involved in balance-of-payments difficulties which handicap them in carrying out the provisions of Article 3 without resort to trade