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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report. It recalls that for a number of years it has been drawing the Government's attention to the need to include appropriate protection measures in its legislation respecting occupational exposure to benzene, in order to bring the law into compliance with the provisions of the Convention.

The Government stated as long ago as 1980 that the Committee's comments on this subject would be taken into account to supplement or amend, as appropriate, the provisions contained in the regulations issued under the draft Labour Code. In the observations made by the Committee after 1989, it noted that the regulations issued under the draft Labour Code contained provisions designed to give effect to a number of the requirements of the Convention on which it had been commenting since 1977. It also noted that the draft text did not contain provisions giving effect to Article 3 of the Convention (consultation of the most representative organizations of employers and workers concerned regarding the granting of temporary derogations by the labour inspector under section 502 of the draft regulations) or to Article 8, paragraph 1, of the Convention (the provision of adequate means of personal protection against the risk of absorbing benzene through the skin for workers who may have skin contact with liquid benzene or liquid products containing benzene). In 1993, the Committee noted the Government's statement in its report for 1992 that the Ministry of Labour had prepared a draft Decree taking into account its comments. According to the Government, the draft Decree would give effect to certain Articles of the Convention and would contain a provision requiring means of personal protection for workers who may be exposed to benzene vapour.

After noting the discussions held in the Conference Committee for the second time in 1993, the Committee noted that the above draft Decree, drawn up to supplement the legislation concerning occupational exposure to benzene, had been transmitted for comments to the organizations of employers and workers concerned.

The Committee once again notes with regret that the draft Decree has still not been adopted. It once again expresses the firm hope that the Decree will be adopted in the near future and that it will give full effect to the Convention, and particularly to Article 8, paragraph 1, which provides that workers who may have skin contact with liquid benzene or liquid products containing benzene shall be provided with adequate means of personal protection against the risk of absorbing benzene through the skin. The Committee trusts that the Government will take the necessary action for this purpose as soon as possible.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 2000.]