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The Committee notes the Government’s reply to its earlier comments.

Article 25 of the Convention. The Committee previously noted the penal sanctions provided in section 7(1) of the Labour Code Order, 1992, for any person who exacts or imposes forced labour for the benefit of any private individual, association or body and in section 7(2) for any chief or public officer who puts constraint upon the population or any member thereof to work for any private individual, company, association or other such body. The Committee asked the Government to take measures in order to provide similar sanctions for any imposition of forced labour as defined in section 3 of the Order, also if imposed for the benefit of a public entity. It noted the Government’s indication that the issue was to be examined by the tripartite National Advisory Committee on Labour.

In its latest report, the Government reiterates that the issue of sanctions for imposition of forced labour has not yet been examined by the National Advisory Committee on Labour and again promises to table the issue at the Committee’s future meetings.

While noting the Government’s assurances of its commitment in bringing the legislation into conformity with the Convention, the Committee expresses firm hope that the necessary measures will at last be taken by the Government in order to bring the national legislation into compliance with the Convention on this point and requests the Government to report any progress achieved in this regard.