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The Committee notes the Government’s report, the replies to its previous comments, the annual inspection report and the statistical tables for 1999.

Labour inspection and child labour. With reference to its general observation of 1999, the Committee notes with interest the provisions of Law No. 24 of 2000 amending certain provisions of the Labour Code, and particularly those relating to the minimum age for employment. It hopes that this law will rapidly be supplemented by regulations for its implementation in practice and that inspectors will be provided with the necessary means to supervise its application in an effective manner. It would be grateful if the Government would provide copies of such texts and keep the ILO informed of the progress attained in relation to the Bill on compulsory education prepared in collaboration between the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour and the other state bodies concerned.

Improvement of occupational safety and health. The Committee notes with interest the establishment of six additional occupational safety and health centres, thereby bringing their number to ten throughout the country. The Government indicates that the functions of these centres are, firstly, to provide guidance to enterprises in the field of occupational safety and health and, secondly, to inspect the above enterprises, and that the centres have been allocated technical human resources and equipment for preventive care. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide copies of the basic texts determining the establishment, functions and operation of these centres and details of the composition of their technical staff.

The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would provide information on the number and categories of persons who benefited, in the context of the national occupational safety and health programme, from awareness-raising sessions for workers exposed to occupational risks over recent years.

Statistics on workplaces liable to inspection by the labour inspectorate. With reference to its previous comments and noting, firstly, the detailed information provided by the Government on the nature and aims of labour inspections carried out by the inspection services and, secondly, the relevant statistical tables for 1999, the Committee reminds the Government that, in order to assess the effectiveness of labour inspection, it is necessary to have information available on the number of workplaces liable to inspection (Article 21(c) of the Convention). It therefore once again requests the Government to ensure that this information is henceforth included in the annual inspection report.

Publication of an annual report on the inspection services. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would take the necessary measures to ensure that the annual inspection report is published and communicated to the ILO within the time limits set out in Article 20 of the Convention.