CMNT_TITLE

1. Article 6 of the Convention (absence of status guaranteeing stability and independence of inspection staff). In its previous comments, the Committee noted that for more than 20 years the Government stated the following: that it was drawing up regulations for labour inspection staff; that such a project was prepared with the ILO's assistance; and that the issue was examined by a direct contacts mission in 1992. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its last report that, although the draft regulations for inspection staff have not yet been adopted, inspectors are performing their duties with complete independence and impartiality; both the Government and the inspectors themselves are concerned with this issue which was the subject of a seminar organized for the inspectors with the ILO's support, one of the recommendations of which was to adopt such regulations as soon as possible.

The Committee recalls that under this Article of the Convention, the inspection staff shall be composed of public officials whose status and conditions of service are such that they are assured of stability of employment and are independent of changes of government and of improper external influences. This is an essential principle on which the effectiveness of the inspection system is based. The Committee expresses the hope that the necessary provisions will be adopted in the near future and that the Government will provide information on the progress made.

2. The Committee is again addressing a direct request to the Government on the application of Articles 7, 10, 11, 16, 20 and 21 of the Convention.