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The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report.

To the request for clarification sent to the ILO by the Government concerning its comments on section 98 of the Syrian Labour Code of 1959 under the terms of which the Minister may refuse to approve a collective agreement or cancel any clause likely to harm the economic interests of the country, the Committee replied that only questions of form or of inconsistency with the minimum standards of labour law could justify such a system of approval. It suggested that the Government refer to its 1994 General Survey on freedom of association and collective bargaining which contains various proposals in that respect, including holding prior consultations on what the scope of the concept of public interest should be, establishing joint bodies and drawing the attention of the parties to the economic policy objectives recognized as being in the public interest (see in particular General Survey, op. cit., paragraphs 251-253).

The Committee notes with interest that the Government states in its last report that it is examining the question and conducting the necessary consultations with the various structures concerned for the amendment of section 98, and will keep the Committee informed of the results.

The Committee asks the Government to communicate in its next report information on any measure taken in this respect.