CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the Government's report.

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the number of trade union organizations which have been set up in plantations and the approximate number of members. The Committee again requests the Government to supply this information in its next report.

Moreover, the Committee notes with interest the administrative directive from the Minister of Labour of 18 January 1999 ordering the competent authorities "... to remain constantly viligant in the protection of the collective rights of workers, to ensure that there is no hindrance to workers and their trade union representatives' constitutional right to assembly and to hold meetings and peaceful demonstrations with the workers ...". However, the Committee again wishes to stress the importance it attaches to the freedom of access of trade union officers to plantations, explicitly recognized in the conclusions adopted by the ILO Committee on Work in Plantations. The Committee trusts that the Government will take measures to guarantee this right and asks it to provide information in this respect in its next report.

The Government is requested to report in detail in 2000.