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The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to previous comments. It hopes that the next report will include full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which reads as follows:

Article 1(3) of the Convention.  With reference to the previous request, the Committee notes that the Government has supplied a copy of Decision No. 944 of 13.8.1985. It notes that this Decision concerns miscellaneous conditions applicable to the persons (not only nurses) providing voluntary services to paralysed victims of the battle of Kadissiyat Saddam but does not stipulate education and training for nurses or specify the requirements for the practice of nursing. The Committee requests the Government (i) to indicate whether the nurses covered by this Decision are required to have received the same education and training as nurses in other sectors and whether they need to fulfil the same requirements as in other sectors for the practice of nursing; and (ii) to state whether voluntary nursing care is also provided in circumstances other than those covered by the above decision and, if so, to supply information on them.

Article 5.  In reply to the questions concerning this Article, the Government repeats its indication to the effect that nurses in the socialist sector are guaranteed the rights by the laws on the public service and on retirement, and states that the appeal to the judiciary concerning practices prejudicial to their interest takes place after amicable measures are exhausted. The Committee points out that Article 5(1) of the Convention requires measures to promote the participation of nursing personnel in the planning of nursing services and consultation with such personnel in decisions concerning them. It requests the Government to indicate any measures taken to this end. Regarding Article 5(3) which calls for the settlement of disputes arising in connection with the determination of employment conditions either through negotiations or by such procedures as mediation, conciliation or voluntary arbitration, the Committee requests the Government to indicate any procedures established in this respect.

Part V of the report form.  Noting the Government’s statement that the requested statistics concerning the number of nursing personnel are not available, the Committee asks the Government to supply with future reports such statistics when available.