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1. Strengthening social dialogue. The Committee notes the reports on the meetings of the Higher Labour Council held in 2004, which were attached to the Government’s report received in September 2005. The Committee once again welcomes the full and detailed information provided by the Government on the work of the Higher Labour Council relating to the general activities of the ILO.

2. The Committee hopes that, in its next report, the Government will be able to indicate the manner in which the Higher Labour Council has participated in the tripartite consultations on international labour standards required by Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention.

3. Tripartite consultations required by the Convention. Transmission of draft reports. The Government indicates that, in accordance with the provisions of article 23, paragraph 2, of the Constitution of the ILO, the report would be communicated to all organizations of employers and workers in the country. The comments made by the organizations, whether they are of a general or specific nature relating to the report on the application of the Convention, will then be forwarded to the Office. The Committee recalls that the obligation to consult representative organizations with regard to the reports to be made on the application of ratified Conventions, under the terms of Article 5, paragraph 1(d), of the Convention, must be distinguished from the obligation to communicate reports under article 23, paragraph 2, of the Constitution. The tripartite consultations required by the Convention have to be held during the process of preparing reports. Where consultations are held in writing, the Government should transmit a draft report to the representative organizations in order to gather their opinions before preparing its definitive report (paragraph 92 of the General Survey of 2000). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information in its next report on the consultations held on each of the items enumerated in Article 5, paragraph 1, of the Convention, with particular reference to the manner in which its practice has developed with regard to tripartite consultation on draft reports on the application of ratified Conventions (Article 5, paragraph 1(d)).