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The Committee notes the Government’s report in reply to its previous comments and the documentation attached.

The Committee notes the recent creation of a new ministry responsible for labour matters, entitled the Ministry of the Civil Service, State Reform and Institutional Relations. It would be grateful if the Government would provide copies of the texts relating to its establishment, organization and functioning and provide any useful information on the impact of the restructuring of the central bodies responsible for labour matters on the functioning of the labour inspectorate and the status of labour inspectors. It requests the Government to indicate, in particular, whether Act No. 02-72 establishing the National Labour Directorate has been affected by the restructuring.

Articles 6 and 15 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest that the Government envisages establishing by decree a bonus and compensation for inspectors, controllers and their assistants and that this bonus would be sufficiently high to ensure their independence of improper external influences. It would be grateful if the Government would provide a copy of the decree as soon as it has been adopted and inform the ILO of its effects over the next reporting period.

International cooperation and ILO technical assistance. According to the Government, a cooperation programme between the French Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of the Civil Service, which includes the creation of a vocational training centre, is currently being implemented. The Committee notes with interest that two inspectors and an occupational medical officer participated in a short "train the trainers" course in July 2004 in Lille. The Government is requested to provide information on the content of the training course and to the effects that are expected.

The Committee also notes that an evaluation of the labour administration was carried out with the technical assistance of the ILO in March to April 2004. However, noting that the component on labour inspection has not yet been examined, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate whether any measures have been taken for this purpose and communicate any information available on the progress achieved and on any difficulties encountered.

Articles 19, 20 and 21. The Committee notes that measures have been taken for the reports of the regional inspectorates to be submitted in time and that a general annual report on inspection activities will soon be transmitted to the ILO. The Committee reminds the Government that, in accordance with Article 20, the report should also be published so that it is accessible to any persons interested, and particularly for representative employers’ and workers’ organizations. It therefore requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to this end.