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The Committee notes the Government’s reports for 2006 and 2007 and the statistics they contain. It also notes that, according to the Government, the provisions on inspection and labour inspectors that apply to industrial and commercial undertakings likewise apply to agricultural undertakings. The Committee therefore refers the Government to its comments on Convention No. 81, but nevertheless asks it to provide information on the following points in its next report on the application of Convention No. 129.

Applicable legislation. In view of the adoption in March 2007 of a new Labour Code, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the legislative and regulatory provisions applying specifically to the subjects covered by this Convention, and to specify their content. In particular, it asks the Government to state whether Decree No. 983 of 20 July 2001 and Decree No. 1132 of 2004 have been repealed, as the reports on this Convention and on Convention No. 81 seem to indicate, and whether these texts have been replaced by other provisions regulating the functions and activities of labour inspectors in agriculture.

Article 6, paragraphs 1(a) and (b) and 2, of the Convention. Supervision and prevention (technical information and advice) in occupational safety and health in agricultural undertakings. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the work of labour inspectors in the area of supervision and prevention in agriculture undertakings, particularly with a view to ensuring the protection of workers exposed to risks related to the use of chemicals, plant or complex machinery. The Government is also asked to indicate whether the national legislation confers on labour inspectors in agriculture the duties of assistance or control relating to the application of the legal provisions on the living conditions of workers and their families, to specify these duties and to provide information on how they are carried out in practice and on their results.

Article 9, paragraph 3. Training for labour inspectors in agriculture. Pursuant to the Ministerial Order of 2006 approving the regulations on the training of labour inspectors, it is necessary for inspectors to undergo periodic training and their knowledge must be evaluated at least once every three years. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the content of the training intended specifically for labour inspectors in agriculture, the number of beneficiaries of the training and the frequency of the training sessions.

Article 15(b). Transport facilities available for inspectors in agriculture. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the transport facilities available to labour inspectors in agriculture bearing in mind the distance of agricultural undertakings from urban centres and their wide dispersion.

Articles 26 and 27. Annual report on the work of the labour inspection services in agriculture. While taking due note of the statistics sent by the Government showing the working of the labour inspectorate in agriculture, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the requirement for the central labour inspectorate authority to publish an annual report on the work of the inspection services in agriculture under its control, either as a separate report or as part of its general annual report, containing the information specified at clauses (a) to (g) of Article 27. It requests the Government to take the necessary steps to this end and hopes that such a report will be sent shortly to the ILO.