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The Committee has noted the information provided by the Government in reply to its earlier comments.

Over a number of years the Committee has been referring to sections 13 to 18 of the Chief’s Authority Act (Cap. 128), according to which able-bodied male persons between 18 and 45 years of age may be required to perform any work or service in connection with the conservation of natural resources for up to 60 days in any year. On many occasions it expressed the hope that these sections would be either repealed or amended so as to give effect to the Convention.

The Committee notes that the Chief’s Authority Act has not yet been repealed, and the amendments introduced by Act No. 10 of 1997 not only did not bring the legislation into compliance with the Convention, but even raised the age limit for call-up for compulsory labour to 50 years. In its latest report, the Government indicates that a comprehensive labour law revision project will be undertaken soon in consultation with the social partners and with the technical assistance of the ILO, and that the labour law reform will integrate amendments/repeals requested by the Committee.

The Committee trusts that the necessary measures will be taken without further delay to bring the legislation into conformity with the Convention, and that the Government will supply a copy of the amendments, as soon as they are adopted.