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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following matters raised in its previous direct request:

Article 2(2)(c) of the Convention. Prison labour. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of Act No. 9 or 2004 on Reformatory and Rehabilitation Centres, which has repealed the Prison Act No. 23 of 1953, as amended (section 44). It requests the Government to indicate, in its next report, whether Prison Regulations No. 1 of 1955, issued under the Prison Act of 1953, which provided that prisoners might carry out work for an officer or member of the army by authorization of the Minister of Defence (section 8(e)), have also been formally repealed and, if so, to supply a copy of the repealing text. Please also supply a copy of Regulations adopted under section 42 of Act No. 9 of 2004.

The Committee notes that, under section 21(a) of Act No. 9 of 2004, a person sentenced to hard labour may work either inside or outside the centre and may be assigned any task decided upon by the director. It also notes the Government’s indications in the report that there is no link between private individuals, companies or associations and the work of prisoners in the rehabilitation centres. While noting these indications, the Committee would appreciate it if the Government would provide information about the organization or prisoners’ work both inside and outside the centre, as well as any information on the activities of the High Rehabilitation Committee (sections 31 and 32 of Act No. 9 of 2004) as regards the organization of such work, including copies of relevant reports and policy documents.