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Article 7 of the Convention. Continuation of the right to sickness insurance after the termination of the last engagement. Replying to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government states that it will shortly supply statistics concerning the application to seafarers of section 37 of Presidential Decree No. 009-97-SA, as amended, providing for an extension of the period of protection (período de latencia) after the end of the last engagement, the duration of the extension varying as a function of the period worked. The Committee notes this information and recalls that, in accordance with this provision of the Convention, the right to sickness insurance benefit shall continue during a definite period so as to cover the normal interval between successive engagements. The Committee therefore trusts that the Government will also supply statistical information on the average period of time between two engagements for seafarers, as compared with the average period during which seafarers benefit in practice from continuation of sickness insurance after the termination of their engagement.

[The Government is requested to reply in detail to the present comments in 2008.]