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The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending on 31 May 2001, the Government’s replies to its previous comments and the tables appended to the report.

The Government indicates that in the last few years, 60 to 65 per cent of the general state budget is financed from external resources and that, following the situation in 2000 and 2001 marked by war and natural disasters, the Government has given priority to health, education and the reconstruction of infrastructure. The Committee notes that, as a consequence, an extremely limited portion of the budget is available for the operation of the labour inspectorate. The material and financial difficulties facing the labour inspection services (precarious equipment, inspection offices far away from enterprises, lack of transport facilities, non-reimbursement of labour inspectors’ duty travel expenses) account for the substantial reduction in the number of inspection visits and a general drop in the efficiency of inspection services. Noting that, according to the Government, it would be desirable for labour inspectors to be trained to identify occupational risks, and referring to paragraph 332 of its General Survey of 1985 on labour inspection, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the possibility of seeking technical assistance from the International Labour Office and from the competent regional labour administration. It also points out that Members have the possibility, where the country’s economic position does not allow adequate effect to be given to the provisions of the Convention, of calling on international cooperation with support from the Office, if necessary, in seeking the necessary funds. The Committee hopes that the Government will take steps to that end and that it will be in a position to provide relevant information in its next report.