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The Committee notes the Government's reports for 1996 and 1997 and the partial information provided in response to a number of the Committee's previous comments. The Committee also noted the Government's statement to the effect that the information concerning the labour inspectorate's activities covers all economic sectors, including agriculture. The Committee has also examined the Government's reports concerning the application of Convention No. 81. However, it notes that no annual report on the activities of the labour inspectorate has been communicated to the ILO either under Convention No. 129 or Convention No. 81.

The Committee is therefore bound to again reiterate the need to publish annual reports, to enable the supervisory bodies of the ILO to regularly assess the manner in which effect is given to the Convention and to enable the social partners concerned to keep abreast of, to refer to, and actively participate in and contribute to the activities of the labour inspectorate in the manner provided for by the legislation. Where statistics are not classified according to economic sector of activity, the Committee is unable to assess the extent or effectiveness of the activities of the labour inspectorate. In order to do so, the Committee requires specific information on the activities of the labour inspectorate, as stipulated under Article 27 of the Convention, irrespective of whether such information is contained in the general annual report published by the labour inspectorate to assess the appropriateness of the material, financial and human resources set aside to ensure that conditions of work in the agricultural sector are met.

Moreover, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government to the effect that the inter-professional collective agreement of 20 July 1977, whose field of application at the time of adoption excluded employers and workers in the agricultural sector, now gives effect to the Convention. The Committee notes that the provisions of this inter-professional collective agreement establishes employer obligations which require close supervision by the labour inspectorate. The Committee therefore considers the publication of periodical statistics on the violations committed and sanctions imposed indispensable in this regard.

Finally, the Committee notes that copies of annual inspection reports are not transmitted to the representative organizations of employers and workers in the agricultural sector, as a consequence of which, these organizations are unable to formulate any observations they may have on the manner in which the Convention is applied.

The Committee addresses a direct request to the Government in relation to the application of Articles 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 21 of the Convention.