CMNT_TITLE

1.  Article 21 of the Convention (adjustment of long-term benefits).  In reply to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates that the adjustment of periodical payments is based on the three following criteria: the cost of living, the general increase in wages and the financial situation of the employment injury branch. In this way, following the general increase in wages which occurred during the course of 1999, employment injury benefits were readjusted as of 1 September 1999 by the coefficient 1.06. The Committee notes this information with interest, even though it is not sufficient to enable it to assess whether the Convention is fully applied on this point. The Committee once again hopes that the Government’s next report, in addition to the readjustment coefficient applied and for the same reference period, will contain statistical data on fluctuations in the cost-of-living indices and the general increase in wages in the country, as well as on the adjustment of benefit rates (average per beneficiary and benefit for standard beneficiary), as requested under Article 21 of the Convention in the report form adopted by the Governing Body of the ILO.

2.  With reference to its previous comments, the Committee regrets to note that, despite the promise made by the Government in its previous report, the current report still does not contain statistical data on the scope and level of benefits, as requested in the report form under Articles 4 and 19 or 20 of the Convention. The Committee trusts that the Government will make every effort to provide this information with its next report.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 2002.]