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The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending on 30 June 2007, the information sent in reply to its previous comments, and the General Report on Evaluation and Follow-Up Visits for the Reinforcement of Territorial Departments, Special Offices and Labour Inspection Services, also attached. The Committee also notes the comments of the Single Confederation of Workers of Colombia (CUT), received by the ILO on 31 August 2007 and forwarded to the Government on 18 September 2007. The CUT has objections to: (1) the conditions of service of labour inspectors; (2) human resources and the distribution of the labour inspection services; (3) the material means and the transport facilities available to labour inspectors; and (4) the frequency and quality of inspection visits. The Committee asks the Government to provide the Office with any comments that it feels may be useful on the issues raised by the CUT, supplemented if necessary by any relevant documents, so that they may be examined at its next session.

Article 17 of the Convention. Association of labour inspectors in preventive control in agricultural undertakings. The Committee notes that labour inspectors are required to verify the existence, including in agricultural undertakings, of joint occupational health committees (COPASO) or monitors in smaller undertakings. The territorial labour departments, under the coordination of the General Directorate of Occupational Risks, are responsible for ensuring the application of the legislation on risk prevention. In consultation with the occupational health committees, they cooperate with the bodies responsible for health in occupational disease prevention activities. There are also occupational health committees at local level, to which the labour inspectors give advice on the preparation and implementation of activities and policies relating to risk prevention. The Committee also notes with interest that occupational risk insurance companies help to supervise the application of the relevant legislation by making it compulsory for undertakings to comply with that legislation and stop practices which are unlawful or a danger to the health or life of workers affiliated to the general system for employment injury. Noting also that the CUT has said it is unaware whether any measures have been taken to promote collaboration between inspection officials and employers and workers in the agricultural sector, the Committee asks the Government to specify whether such measures have been taken and whether and in what manner the association of the inspection services in preventive control in agricultural undertakings extends to the control of new plant, new materials or substances and new methods of handling or processing products which appear likely to constitute a threat to health or safety.

The Committee is addressing a direct request to the Government on a number of other matters.