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The Committee takes note of the texts of the three basic Acts of 1991 respecting labour adopted by the Romanian Parliament: Act No. 54 respecting trade unions, Act No. 13 on collective labour agreements and Act No. 15 on the settlement of collective labour disputes, and of the new Constitution.

It also notes the comments made by the World Confederation of Labour and the Cartel Alpha National Trade Union Confederation, and asks the Government to reply to them.

The Committee observes with interest that the new Acts, in conjunction with the repeal of several legislative provisions on which it commented earlier, change the general orientation of the industrial relations system, establish trade union pluralism and the independence of the trade union movement, and recognise the principle of free negotiation of collective labour agreements.

The Committee asks the Government to indicate whether Act No. 14 under which a collective dispute could be referred to compulsory arbitration in the event of failure of wage negotiations during 1991, expired on 31 December 1991 as anticipated, or whether a similar provision has been extended to 1992.

In addition, the Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the practical application of Article 4 of the Convention (number of collective agreements in force, number of employees covered, sectors concerned, etc.).

Since the Government has not yet had time to reply to the comments of the World Confederation of Labour and the Cartel Alpha National Trade Union Confederation, the Committee will address these specific questions at its next meeting, once it has examined the Government's observations.