CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its previous comments. The Committee notes that since it made its previous comments the situation of the sugar plantations owned by the Dominican State (State Sugar Board) has changed. The plantations have been leased to private enterprises, which have been managing the plantations and recruiting workers since the sugar cane harvest in November 1999. Before the tender was issued for the leasing of the plantations, the State Sugar Board terminated all the employment contracts of the persons working in the various plantations. All workers were paid for their work and fortnightly wages owed to them and workers over 60 years of age were granted the corresponding pension. The Committee also notes that the private enterprises which are currently managing the sugar plantations have concluded new employment contracts. The labour inspectorate is discharging its functions to determine the working conditions in sugar refineries and plantations, and to ensure compliance with labour standards. The Committee also notes that the private administrators of plantations have indicated their readiness to pay their workers’ wages on a weekly basis, and that this practice has now been initiated, and have undertaken not to retain a proportion of the wage for payment at the end of the harvest. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on this new situation and on the results of the work of the labour inspectors.

The Committee welcomes the conclusion of a technical agreement between the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Haiti on 23 February 2000 determining the terms and conditions for the recruitment of their nationals. The Committee also notes that the above agreement has to be ratified by the Congresses of the countries party to the agreement. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would report on the ratification of the agreement and, in particular, on the measures taken for its application and the results achieved.