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In its previous comments, the Committee had requested the Government to continue to provide information on the facilities afforded in practice to workers' representatives in public and private sector enterprises.

In this regard, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government to the effect that various collective agreements recognize the right of members of the executive committee to hold meetings with workers on the premises of work centres and all workers are permitted to attend ordinary and extraordinary assemblies without loss of salary. Permission is given to workers who so require to attend union training, or to attend union congresses at national and international level without loss of salary. Similarly, permission is given for trade union leaders to carry out union work, without loss of salary over a considerable period of time. Furthermore, facilities, such as office space, are granted to union committees so that they can hold meetings related to their function.

Finally, the Committee notes with interest that the Minister of Labour issued official notice DM-1428-96 instructing the inspection authorities to ensure that they respect, among other things, the right of trade union leaders to make contact with plantation workers.