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With reference also to its observation, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the following points.

1.  Recording of industrial accidents and occupational diseases.  On many occasions, and in its general observation of 1996, the Committee has emphasized the need to take measures enabling the central authority to obtain and transmit to the ILO the information required by Article 21(f) and (g) on industrial accidents and occupational diseases. The Committee notes in this respect that the Labour Department is only responsible for the recording of industrial accidents affecting foreign employees covered by the Workmen’s Compensation Act. Furthermore, the statistical data provided with the report on the number of workplaces inspected and economic sectors only cover a part of the country and do not include inspections in relation to occupational safety and health which, it is indicated, are the responsibility of the Department of Occupational Safety and Health and the Social Security Organization. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide additional information on the manner in which effect is given to Article 14, which provides that the labour inspectorate shall be notified of industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease in such cases and in such manner as may be prescribed by national laws or regulations.

2.  Central inspection authority and annual inspection report. The Committee notes that the ILO has not received any annual inspection report, despite the undertaking made by the Government in this respect in its report for 1995, and it is bound to emphasize once again the need to designate the central authority with responsibility, in accordance with Article 4, for the supervision and control of labour inspection and, in accordance with Article 20, for the publication and transmission to the ILO of an annual general report on the work of the inspection services under its control. It requests the Government to take the appropriate measures to give effect to these provisions of the Convention and to report them in its next report. It also trusts that an annual inspection report containing all the information required under Article 21(a) to (g) will be published in the near future and transmitted to the ILO within the required time limits.