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Articles 10, 11 and 16 of the Convention. The Committee notes the information provided in the Government's report and in the 1996 annual report of the Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety Services (DOHSS). It notes the statistics provided on the number of inspections and the vehicles at the disposal of the labour department; the statistics of registered factories and of the number of workers employed as well as the information on the establishment of a database on labour inspection functions including all establishments visited by the labour inspection staff. The Committee notes the information that the number of inspections carried out in the last years has remained relatively low in comparison with the number of registered factories. This is confirmed by the chart of inspection visits which shows that the number of inspections after having progressed from 1990 to 1993, has been decreasing since 1994 through 1996. The Committee also notes that the inspection services are handicapped in the discharge of their duties by the inadequacy of financial resources, transport facilities, office accommodation, equipment and training. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide information on any steps taken to improve the human, financial and technical means at the disposal of the labour inspection to ensure that workplaces are inspected as often and as thoroughly as is necessary to ensure the effective application of the relevant labour legislation.

Articles 14 and 21. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government that industrial accidents and cases of occupational diseases are reported to the Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety Services. It notes, however, the indication by the Government that while statistics on occupational accidents are contained in the report of the Directorate, data on occupational diseases is not available for lack of resources. The Committee hopes that in future, statistics on occupational accidents as well as on occupational diseases will be compiled and published, such data being an important element in the evaluation of the impact of inspection on the safety and health of workers. It requests the Government to report on any progress made in this regard.