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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its previous comments.

Article 2, paragraph 2(b), of the Convention. Further to its previous comments the Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government that the project on the classification of nursing jobs in the regions developed by the Department of Nursing Care of the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the trade union of nursing personnel is under final consideration by the Central Management and Administrative Body. The Committee also takes note that the final text will be communicated when it is adopted. The Committee notes the information according to which due to decision No. 289 of 1985 taken by the President of the Central Management and Administrative Body concerning the re-evaluation of a number of jobs at the Ministry of Health, the level of the Director-General of Nursing was upgrading to the level of Head of the Central Management of Nursing with two administrative units. In relation to the Committee's previous comments on whether there are any laws or regulations applicable to nursing personnel in both the public and private sectors which are likely to attract persons to the profession and retain them in it, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government that:

-- By virtue of Order No. 534 of 1983 of the Minister of Health incentives are granted to nursing personnel for exceptional efforts.

-- A few private hospitals pay wages and bonuses representing 400 per cent to 600 per cent, on average, of a nurse's wage in the public sector, and thus the General Administration of Nursing at the Ministry of Health is exerting efforts to increase the level of bonuses in this sector to reduce the number of nursing personnel leaving the profession. The Government also informs that in the light of Order No. 2072 of 1993 of the President of the Council of Ministers, it raised infection allowances to 180, 120 and 96 Egyptian pounds a year, according to the professional grade.

-- A proposal has been submitted to the Minister of Health, which was agreed upon, to increase the allowance in order to prevent 30 per cent of graduates of the Graduate Institutes of Nursing from leaving their profession due to the initial starting salary prescribed in the public sector.

-- Infection allowance for nursing personnel was increased by 360 Egyptian pounds a year to a maximum of 40 per cent of the initial starting salary fixed for the job.

The Government also states that the Central Management and Administrative Body currently examine this issue with a view to limiting the number of nursing personnel who leaves the public sector. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information in relation to the application of this provision of the Convention.

Article 5, paragraph 3. Further to its previous comments the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government that sections 93 to 106 of the Labour Code of 1981 provide also for the settlement of labour conflicts in the public sector. However, the Committee notes that section 3(a) of the Labour Code provides that "The provisions of the present law shall not apply to: (a) working people with the administrative organs of the State, local government units and public organisations except for the provisions stipulated in Chapter 5 entitled 'Occupational Health and Safety' and provisions to be adopted by a Decree by the President." The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide clarifications on this issue.

Article 7. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government that Chapter 5 of the Labour Code relating to occupational health and safety was amended by the draft of a new Labour Code. The Government also informs that a copy of the new provisions will be sent as soon as it is published. With reference to its general observation of 1990 which it repeated in 1994, the Committee notes the information that the General Administration of Nursing at the Ministry of Health organized a conference in 1994 on the role of nurses in limiting the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The Government informs that decisions were taken at this conference to assure the participation of nursing personnel to symposia and to carry out practical workshops and to prioritize the formulation of training plans so as to obtain the most recent information regarding the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to upgrade the level of knowledge and skills of nursing personnel in order to avoid situations of exposure to this virus whilst performing its duties. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on these issues and on the measures taken or contemplated with respect to nursing personnel who are infected or considered to be infected by HIV (e.g. adaptation of conditions of work, etc.).

Part V of the report form. The Committee takes note of the data provided by the Government in its report. The Committee notes with interest that the number of nursing personnel in proportion to the number of inhabitants, sick persons and doctors has increased during the last years in comparison to the data contained in the report of the Government received in January 1994. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the number of persons who are leaving the profession, in particular, in the public sector.