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The Committee notes the Government’s report together with the statistical information regarding labour inspection results for 1998.

Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the process of revision of the national labour legislation has been accelerated through the technical and financial assistance of the ILO and the UNDP, and that the draft bills are expected to be completed soon before they are forwarded to the Government and the Parliament for consideration and adoption. The Committee expresses the firm hope that the enactment of the new legislation will eliminate the discrepancies to which the Committee has been drawing attention for some time past. It asks the Government to report on further developments in this matter and to communicate the texts of any revised labour laws as soon as they are adopted.

In addition, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that the application of the Convention has been rendered difficult due to the economic restructuring of most private and public enterprises and the resulting reduced ability of employers to pay wages. In this connection, considering also the Government’s indication that courts of law have given decisions involving questions of principle relating to the application of the Convention and that 95 per cent of the cases referred to courts concern the non-payment of wages, the Committee would appreciate receiving detailed information on the nature and extent of the difficulties encountered and the measures taken to ensure the payment of wages, including, for instance, strengthened supervision and strict application of penalties to prevent and punish infringements.