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1. The Committee notes that in a communication in September 2005, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) on behalf of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) submitted observations concerning the application by Zimbabwe of a series of Conventions including Conventions Nos. 155, 161, 162, 170 and 176, and that in a communication transmitted in December 2005, the Government responded thereto. As regards the issues raised in this context regarding the absence of chemical registers in Zimbabwe, the Committee refers to its observations this year concerning the application by Zimbabwe of the Chemicals Convention, 1990 (No. 170).

2. Article 9, paragraph 2, of the Convention. Adequate penalties for violations of the laws and regulations. The Committee notes the observations by the ZCTU that the penalties and fines for non-compliance with the law on occupational health are too low, which is why most employers do not attribute sufficient importance to issues related to occupational safety and health and that the Government in its response thereto states that it has taken note of the recommendation to increase the penal sanctions for non-observance of the national law on occupational health. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on all measures taken to follow up on the recommendation by the ZCTU and to give full effect to this Article of the Convention.

3. The Committee is raising certain other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.