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The Committee takes note of the Government’s report.

In its previous direct request, the Committee asked the Government to indicate the measures taken to implement the Agreement on economic issues and the agrarian situation signed by the Government and the Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unit in 1996. The Committee notes in this connection that, according to the Government, the Urban and Rural Development Councils Act has been amended to extend the Councils’ functions and enable society, indigenous peoples and women’s organizations to participate more directly in decision-making. The Government also points out that the Local Development Councils (COLODES) have been reactivated, and that these, too, allow the rural population to participate in decision-making. Furthermore, a National Land Fund (FONTIERRAS) has been set up, as have a National Committee for Legal Assistance and the Settlement of Land Disputes (CONTIERRA), a Secretariat for Agrarian Affairs and a Prevention Unit for the Settlement of Disputes (UPRECO). However, the Government states that although there is greater certainty in law as to the ownership of lands, the above bodies are unable to make headway owing to a lack of funds. The Committee requests the Government to use all means available to secure implementation of the abovementioned Agreement.

The Committee also asked the Government to indicate the manner in which it has encouraged policies and reforms to facilitate the establishment of organizations of rural workers (Article 4 of the Convention). The Committee notes in this connection that, according to the Government, the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare is preparing a national policy for the provision of free advice to workers wishing to form organizations, which will lead to implementation of a national policy for the defence and development of organizations. The abovementioned preparations have now reached the stage of training the staff of the General Labour Directorate of the metropolitan area and the regional directorates. The Committee requests the Government to continue to keep it informed of all specific measures taken in this regard.