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Article 11 of the Convention. The Committee recalls its numerous previous comments in which it drew the attention of the Government to the need to take measures to ensure that a worker may not use or be required to use machinery without the guards provided being in position, and that no worker may make such guards inoperative. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the draft Labour Code which is under discussion in Parliament, had been made to take into account the observations made by the Committee, and that a copy of the regulations will be provided to the ILO once the draft Labour Code is adopted. The Committee recalls that it has been making these comments for over 25 years, and that pending a resolution of the differences delaying the adoption of the draft Labour Code, the Government had indicated in 1998 that it would propose to the competent authorities a separate text that would take into account the comments of the Committee of Experts. The Committee reiterates its trust that the Government will shortly take the necessary measures for the adoption of the relevant provisions, if necessary by means of a separate regulatory text, and that a copy of the adopted text will be sent to the ILO.

Article 17. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes from the Government’s report that the prohibition of the sale, hire, or transfer in any other manner and exhibition of such machines had been taken into consideration in the draft Labour Code. The Committee recalls that, in its previous comments, it had drawn the attention of the Government to the lack of any detailed measures to ensure the application of the provisions of the Convention to machinery used in agriculture, and urged the Government to take the necessary measures, possibly in the draft Labour Code which has been before the Parliament for a number of years, or in a separate regulatory text, pending the adoption of the draft Labour Code. It reiterates its trust that the Government will shortly take the necessary measures for the adoption of the relevant provisions, if necessary by means of a separate regulatory text, and that a copy of the adopted text will be forwarded to the Office.

Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the information that in the context of international cooperation, the Ministry of Employment had organized training courses for inspectors and physician labour inspectors on occupational safety and health. It notes further that, jointly with the Royal Government of Belgium, three training sessions were organized in 2002 on the prevention of occupational accidents and that three other sessions were planned for 2003. It also notes the information that with the assistance of the ILO, a seminar on the situation of the working environment was organized during 2001, and that with GIT Inter (France), seminars on the prevention of occupational risks in the building industry were organized. The Committee wishes to encourage the Government to continue its efforts in this direction and to keep the Office informed of all developments in this regard.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2003.]