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The Committee takes note of the Government’s report. It also notes the annual report for 2003 of the Health and Safety Authority. It would be grateful if the Government would supply additional information on the following points.

Articles 20 and 21 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest the detailed and well-structured report on occupational safety and health, including statistics on budgetary allocations, occupational accidents and diseases, inspections carried out by industrial branch and by type of workplace, and information on the new legislation to be enforced and on labour inspection policies and strategies in the area of occupational safety and health. In this regard, the Committee welcomes the continued decrease in occupational accidents and diseases over recent years. Recalling that, in accordance with Article 21 of the Convention, information should also be provided on laws and regulations relevant to the work of the inspection service and on the number of workplaces liable to labour inspection, the Committee would be grateful if the Government could ensure that such data are included in the next annual report so that it has complete information to assess the extent to which the Convention is applied.

Article 10. Noting the information provided in the report of the Health and Safety Authority and in the Government’s report on the various categories of labour inspection officers, the Committee reiterates its request for information on the total number of the staff of the labour inspection services, their geographical distribution, their distribution by speciality as well as the material resources at their disposal for the discharge of their duties. It would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the structures which carry out inspections.

Articles 3(1)(b) and 4. The Committee notes the indication contained in the report of the Health and Safety Authority that a substantial reorganization of the Health and Safety Authority was carried out in 2003 and that new enforcement procedures were introduced. It asks the Government to provide up-to-date information in its next report in this regard, and particularly relevant practical and legal information. Moreover, the Committee notes with interest the Government’s efforts to provide advice relating to employment rights by setting up a telephone information service, issuing guidelines and carrying out campaigns. It observes the Government’s focus on preventive action, such as campaigns in the agricultural and construction sectors, as well as targeted strategies, such as the promotion of smoke-free workplaces.

Article 9. The Committee observes that, according to the information provided in the report of the Health and Safety Authority, a new initiative in the area of chemical safety (REACH) was launched in 2003. In this context, the Committee requests the Government to supply information on the cooperation and involvement of experts and technicians in the area of occupational safety and health and the legal status of these persons.