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Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest that an ILO multi-disciplinary mission visited Qatar in February 1992 at the Government's request, in order to make recommendations as to the labour inspection services. Those recommendations relate to the general need to improve implementation of the Convention, with special reference to bringing legislation more closely into line with Articles 3 (functions of the inspectorate) and 12 and 13 (their powers); to encouraging coordination with other government services (Article 5(a)); to inspectors' conditions of service and training (Articles 6 and 7(3)); and to the other points mentioned below. The Committee is pleased to note that the Minister hopes to implement the recommendations soon, and it trusts the next report will contain further details.

Articles 6, 10 and 16 of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government acknowledges the shortage of labour inspectors to secure the most effective discharge of the duties conferred on them. It further notes the Government's intention to take measures to increase the number of inspectors, including safety and health inspectors. It hopes these measures will be adopted shortly, providing inspectors with the status and conditions of service that assure them stability and independence in their employment, so that they can perform their tasks effectively and, in particular, carry out regular visits to all workplaces liable to inspection. Please supply full details of progress made.

Article 13. The Committee notes the information provided in reply to its previous comments that the adoption of the draft Regulations on labour inspection prepared with the assistance of an ILO expert has been postponed by the Council of Ministers pending a general revision of the Labour Code intended to take into consideration modern international labour standards including those on labour inspection and the provisions of the Convention. The Committee hopes that the necessary measures will be taken soon and that the Government will provide full information.

Articles 19, 20 and 21. The Committee notes that no report on the activities of labour inspection has been published since that for 1987 due to the shortage of labour inspectors. It notes further that an expert has been designated to prepare a report and statistical forms with the help of the members of the ministry. The Committee hopes that these measures will enable the Government to publish and communicate the reports to the ILO and that they will contain all the information required by Article 21.