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1. The Committee notes the Government's report and the information supplied in response to its previous direct request. It also notes the observations made by the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP) sent with the report, and the communication from the Confederation of Portuguese Industry (CIP) sent directly to the Office, a copy of which was sent to the Government.

2. The Committee appreciates the information supplied in the report on the consultations held on the matters set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention. The Government is asked to continue to provide such information in all its future reports.

3. Further to the observations made in 1995 by the CIP and General Union of Workers (UGT), the Government invited the other representative organizations to express their views on the procedures for the consultations. The Committee notes the CGTP's reply stating that they were effective.

4. The CIP, in its communication, deems that its previous observations remain relevant and suggests a discussion on the possibility of holding more regular consultations and abandoning the procedure of written communications. The Committee would encourage the Government to hold discussions with the other representative organizations on these proposals. It hopes that this will enable a solution to be found to the concerns once again raised and that in its next report the Government will provide information on any such consultation, which would be in keeping with the prescriptions of Article 2, paragraph 2.