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1. Article 2, paragraph 2(a), of the Convention. The Committee has been referring for a number of years to the Compulsory Military Service Act which includes among the objectives of military service "cooperation in the social and economic development of the country through the implementation of mixed military programmes as indicated by the Ministry of National Defence" (section 3(c) of the Compulsory Military Service Act of 1977). The Committee requested the Government to provide information on the effect given in practice to the above section, in particular as regards the definition and content of mixed military programmes and the measures that have been taken to ensure that, in accordance with the Convention, no work or service is exacted from conscripts which is not of a purely military character.

The Committee notes that the Ministry of National Defence has notified the general command and recruitment centres for military service that they must continue to comply with the provisions of the Convention.

The Committee notes that the Government's report does not contain information on the programmes executed by conscripts and that the only information provided is that the objective of these programmes is service to the country in civic terms. In order to be able to assure itself of the observance of the Convention in this respect, the Committee requests the Government to supply information on the content of the above programmes, and on the measures which have been taken or are envisaged to amend section 3(c) of the Compulsory Military Service Act.

2. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government concerning the freedom of members of the armed forces to leave their employment.