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The Committee notes the information contained in the Labour Commissioner's Annual Report for 1996.

Article 3, paragraph 2, of the Convention. The Committee notes the information contained in the Labour Commissioner's Annual Report for 1996 that the Employment Safety Act Chapter 90:08 of the Revised Laws, 1990 empowered the Labour Commissioner to carry out an inspection to ensure that the workplaces are kept safe and healthy. It would be grateful if the Government would provide in its next report a copy of this Act. It also notes the information that the Division of Labour is in charge of the immigration and it provides conciliation services to employers and employees before disputes are sent to the Tribunal. The Committee requests the Government to indicate how it is ensured that the functions entrusted to labour inspectors relating to the conciliation between employers and workers do not interfere with the effective discharge of their primary duties or prejudice their authority and impartiality.

Articles 20 and 21. The Committee notes that the annual inspection report contains only partial information on the activities of the inspection services. However, it notes with interest the information that the reporting forms under the Accidents and Occupational Diseases (Notification) Act Chapter 89: were distributed in many workplaces. The Committee hopes that all information required by article 21 will be included in the reports. Referring also to its 1996 general observation under the Convention relating to the practical guidelines for the collection, recording and communication of reliable data on occupational accidents and diseases contained in the 1996 ILO publication "Recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases", the Committee hopes that future annual labour inspection reports will also contain statistics on occupational diseases.