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1. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in December 2004 and the record of the meeting of the Tripartite Federal Commission on 26 May 2004. It also notes the communications from the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (USS) and of the Confederation of Swiss Employers (UPS) attached to the Government’s report.

2. Tripartite consultations required by the Convention. Administrative support and training. In its report, the Government indicates that the Tripartite Federal Commission includes, in addition to representatives and experts from the administration, representatives of the social partners concerned by ILO matters. With regard to the consultations envisaged in Article 5, paragraph 1(d), of the Convention, the Government indicates that draft reports on the application of Conventions prepared by the federal administration are forwarded, for consultation, in draft form to the central associations of employers and workers, leaving them a period of around four weeks to take up a position. Furthermore, with regard to the financing of training of participants in consultation procedures (Article 4, paragraph 2), the Government states that an allocation is made to employers’ and trade union organizations of which the Swiss Employers’ and Workers’ delegates participating at the Conference are members and which are members of the Tripartite Federal Commission.

3. The Committee also notes that the UPS in its communication does not make any specific criticisms with regard to the working of the Tripartite Federal Commission and considers that there is no particular need for training of participants in the work of the Federal Commission. In its communication, the USS indicates that it is difficult for the social partners to reply within a period of three or four weeks to the consultations made by the Government concerning the many reports submitted to them so that they can take a position before they are forwarded to the ILO. The USS adds that the funds allocated to the social partners are inadequate and cannot really be used for training.

4. The Committee hopes that the Government’s next report will contain up-to-date information on the tripartite consultations required by the Convention, and particularly on the work of the Tripartite Federal Commission.