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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

Further to its previous comments in which it requested the Government to take measures to give effect to Article 3(2), of the Convention, the Committee notes with interest the indication concerning adoption of the Industrial Relations Act No. 1 of 2000 to establish a new industrial dispute resolution mechanism which will be provided by an independent body so that in future labour inspectors will be able to concentrate on their primary duties. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply a copy of the full text of this Act to enable it to ascertain the impact on the application of Article 3(2).

The Committee notes with interest the detailed information contained in the 1998 inspection report which includes comparative statistical tables on a number of subjects covering the previous four years and providing indications on the frequency of meetings and the subjects discussed by the advisory boards in respect of the matters covered by the Convention. The Committee notes, however, with concern that the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board has found difficulty in operating because the asbestostotic patients concerned are no longer employed and cannot afford to pay the travel costs to attend the Board or to pay for the X-rays needed for re-examinations and therefore die sooner. The Committee expresses the hope that the Government will implement appropriate measures to entrust labour inspectors with the task of identifying the persons concerned and that appropriate solutions will be found to alleviate their poverty and give them the care required by their state of health, if necessary resorting to technical cooperation and international funding with a view to developing social security measures for this purpose.

The Committee is addressing a request on other points directly to the Government.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.