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The Committee notes the Government's statement in its first report that the standards contained in the Overseas Labour Code are generally superior to those of the Convention. However, the sections referred to of the Code (namely, sections 129 to 132) do not appear to contain any provision conceived in terms of maritime labour and comparable, for example, to the sections of the Maritime Labour Code under which the Convention appears to be applied in France.

In general, the Committee recalls the opinion contained in Circular No. 46-CT/T30 of 24 January 1955, mentioned by the Government, according to which a general regulation for the overseas departments applicable to seafarers would cover more fully and more satisfactorily all the problems arising out of the employment of seafarers, and that the regulations would be inspired in particular by the relevant international Conventions. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate any measure which has been taken or is envisaged to this effect. It trusts that the Government will include in its next report more detailed information on the way in which Articles 3 to 6 of the Convention are applied in practice. Please indicate the procedures by which the Convention is applied to the repatriation of seafarers, both French and foreign, for which the responsible authorities are aware of the need, if necessary, to advance the expenses of repatriation (Part III of the report form). Please also supply any statistical information which is available in this respect (Part V).