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The Government indicates in its report that the Ministry of Transport, which is the competent authority, has been approached and its reply will be forwarded as soon as possible. In the absence of any further relevant information received, the Committee sees itself obliged to partly repeat its previous direct request, which read essentially as follows:

Article 5 of the Convention. Repatriation expenses. The Committee notes the indication of the Tripartite Consultation Committee that, in Iraq, the profession of seafarers is nearly non-existent. Since, however, a number of vessels are flying the flag of Iraq, the Committee recalls that this Convention applies to all persons employed or engaged in any capacity on board any seagoing vessel registered in the country of any Member ratifying this Convention, except for the vessels listed in Article 1(2).

The Committee, therefore, requests the Government once again to report on the concrete measures taken to ensure that the repatriation expenses under Article 5(1), are paid to all seafarers employed or engaged on board seagoing vessels registered in Iraq to which this Convention applies, regardless as to whether they are awaiting repatriation in locations outside Iraq or in Iraq, or whether they are employed in the public or private sector. The Committee hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to give effect to this provision of the Convention.