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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its reports received in April and August 1996.

1. Article 2, paragraph 2(c), of the Convention. In its earlier comments the Committee observed that section 8(e) of the Prison Regulations (No. 1 of 1955) issued under the Prison Act provides that prisoners may carry out work for an officer or members of the Arab army after obtaining the authorization of the Minister of Defence or his deputy, which is not in conformity with this provision of the Convention, under which prisoners must not be hired to or placed at the disposal of private individuals, companies or associations.

In its report received in April 1996, the Government reiterates its previous statement to the effect that the above-mentioned provision of the Prison Regulations is no longer applied in practice. It indicates that a bill on the reformatory and rehabilitation centres, which, according to previous reports, is intended to replace the Prison Regulations, is still under preparation. The Committee therefore reiterates its request to the Government to provide a copy of the new text as soon as it is adopted and once again expresses the hope that it will take account of the provisions of the Convention and will ensure that prisoners are not assigned to work in the service of private individuals.

2. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the provisions governing the conditions for resignation of members of the armed forces and the conditions of service of civil servants.