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1. In response to a direct request formulated in 2001, the Government indicates that the National Council for Labour and Social Issues approved, at its meeting of 4 December 2002, the regulations on the functioning of the tripartite group of experts on the application of ILO Conventions. The Committee also notes that the agenda of the 14 May 2003 meeting of the group of experts included the results of the 286th Session of the ILO Governing Body, the agenda of the 91st Session of the International Labour Conference and the preparation by the Government of reports on ratified Conventions.

2. The Committee noted the report of the Commission of Inquiry appointed under article 26 of the ILO Constitution to examine the situation of trade union rights in Belarus. The Commission of Inquiry considered, inter alia, that restricting social dialogue to one trade union federation, whose independence had been called into question, would not only have the effect of further anchoring a de facto state-controlled trade union monopoly, but would also infringe upon the right of workers to form and join organizations of their own choosing, in accordance with Article 2 of Convention No. 87 (paragraph 630 of the report). It also stated that it believed that social dialogue would be enhanced by further efforts to delineate the boundaries between the Government and the social partners, as well as between workers and enterprise directors (paragraph 631 of the report). The Committee trusts that the important measures that the Government is called upon to adopt in order to respond to the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry will also ensure the effective application of Convention No. 144. It requests the Government to report on the progress made, particularly in the application of Articles 1, 2 and 5 of the Convention.