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With reference to its observation, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the following points.

Articles 6, paragraph 1(a), 14 and 21 of the Convention. The Committee notes that, according to the Government’s successive reports since 2000, there has been a slight decrease in the number of inspectors discharging their inspection duties in the agricultural sector, in a situation in which their numbers were already deemed to be inadequate. The frequency of inspection visits is, according to the Government, determined as a function of criteria such as the economic importance of enterprises, safety conditions, the number of employment accidents and occupational diseases and the geographical situation of enterprises. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information that is as detailed as possible on the extent of the needs in relation to labour inspection in the agricultural sector (number, size, geographical distribution and type of cultivation of agricultural enterprises; number and distribution of workers engaged therein) and indicate the manner in which it is envisaged to meet these requirements in accordance with the above provisions of the Convention.

Article 11. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the manner in which it is ensured that technical experts and specialists are associated, in accordance with the provisions of this Article of the Convention, in the work of the labour inspection in agriculture.

Article 13. While noting with interest that training courses for the staff responsible for occupational safety and health in agricultural enterprises have been organized and implemented by the labour inspectorate, in collaboration with the workers’ representatives in the agricultural sector, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide information on any measures taken to promote collaboration between officials of the labour inspectorate in agriculture and employers and workers, or their organizations.