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The Committee notes with interest the information provided in the Government's first report. It observes that the Government has not yet taken steps to give effect to the provisions of the Convention.

With reference to its general observation of 1990, the Committee points out that this Convention lays down the basic principles for the development of a national policy to ensure a coherent and comprehensive occupational safety and health system, both at the national level and at the level of the undertaking.

The Committee has noted that, in ratifying the Convention, governments have indicated their recognition of the importance of a coherent policy in this field. Such a policy should be promoted in order to facilitate a timely and adequate response to all concerns raised by occupational hazards, in particular, as regards the impact that technical progress may have on the working environment. As the Committee has suggested in its general observation for several countries, the Government may wish to have recourse to the advice and technical cooperation of the ILO, in particular through the International Programme for the Improvement of Working Conditions and Environment (PIACT), which aims at promoting, inter alia, the principles embodied in this Convention.

The Committee asks the Government to supply information on the measures it has taken or intends to take to formulate a national policy on occupational safety, occupational health and the working environment in accordance with Article 4 of the Convention. It also asks the Government to supply information as to how the application of the other provisions of the Convention is ensured.