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1. In reply to the previous direct request, the Government indicated in its report that the tripartite consultation framework provided in the Convention in order to seek agreements between the social actors in maritime activities is considered to be of fundamental importance. The Government provides information on the tripartite meetings which took place in May 2001 to analyse the draft presidential decree regulating merchant shipping and national and international river and sea transport. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s statement that significant progress has been made and the positions of the parties have come closer together, so that the possibility of obtaining consensus on the content of the future standard appears within reach. In this regard, bearing in mind the international maritime labour agreements in force for Argentina, the Committee refers to Article 5, paragraph 1(d), of the Convention and invites the Government to hold tripartite consultations to examine the possibility of ratifying the most up-to-date international maritime labour agreements such as the Merchant Shipping (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 147), and its 1996 Protocol, along with the Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers Convention, 1996 (No. 179). In this respect, please see the observation made at the present meeting in relation to application of the Placing of Seamen Convention, 1920 (No. 9).

2. In general, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply more detailed information on the consultations that have been held on the other matters set out in Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention, and continue supplying the pertinent documents to allow the Committee to better appreciate the effect given to the provisions of the Convention in practice. Please also add information on the development of the tripartite consultations, relating to matters covered by the Convention, which have been held within the framework of MERCOSUR.