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The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its reports. It would draw the Government's attention to the following points.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes that the indications made by the Government in relation to the terms "manual transport of loads" and "regular manual transport of loads" do not define these terms clearly. It also notes the indication of three age classes to define the term "young worker". The Committee requests the Government to indicate how the terms "manual transport of loads" and "regular transport of loads" is defined in national law and practice by indicating the respective legal basis. Moreover, it asks the Government to explain more in detail how and by what measures the term "young worker" is defined for the purpose of this Convention.

2. Article 6. The Committee notes that the Government's report indicates that section 54 of the Labour Protection Act, which also covers all areas of handling/moving materials, requires the employer to make a risk assessment. The Committee recalls that Article 6 of the Convention calls for suitable technical devices to be used as much as possible in order to limit or facilitate the manual transport of loads. It requests the Government to supply information on the measures taken to ensure that effect is given to this Article of the Convention.

3. Article 8. The Committee notes with interest that the Council Directive 90/269 on the minimum health requirements for the manual handling of loads where there is a risk particularly to back injury to workers is currently in process to be implemented at national level and that, to this effect, it is discussed at the Labour Protective Committee of the Interest Reconciliation Council in order to prepare its promulgation as a Ministerial Decree. The Committee would request the Government to supply a copy of the Ministerial Decree as soon as it is adopted.

4. Point III of the report form. The Committee notes the Government's indication that, due to organizational changes at the beginning of 1997, inspections are carried out by the county and city occupational health and safety inspectorates. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the organizational structure of the inspectorates as well as their working methods regarding the supervision of the legislation designed to give effect to the provisions of the Convention.

5. The Committee requests the Government to supply copy of the Labour Protection Act and of Decree No. 2/1972 (MK 6) of the Minister of Transport and Postal Services.