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The Committee takes note of the Government’s report. The Committee further notes the comments made by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in a communication dated 28 August 2007.

Article 4 of the Convention. Measures to encourage and promote the development of voluntary negotiation between employers’ and workers’ organizations. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to indicate any measures taken or contemplated in order to encourage and promote the full development and utilization of machinery for voluntary negotiation between employers’ and workers’ organizations, including at the level of the Republic as a whole. The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report that it has made efforts in promotion and improvement of voluntary bargaining by the establishment of the economic and social councils at the entity level, while the mid-term development strategy 2004–07 provides for the passage of a Law on the Economic and Social Council at the state level. The Government further indicates that labour, employment and social policy is under the exclusive jurisdiction of the entities and the Brcko district and collective bargaining at state level can only be carried out in respect of employees in state institutions. While no collective agreements exist currently at the state level, a trade union of local administration, police and judicial organs has been established and will submit a recommendation to the Council of Ministers to initiate a bargaining process. The Committee requests the Government to provide it with any available statistics on the number and coverage of collective agreements that have been concluded throughout the territory.

The Committee is addressing a request on certain other points directly to the Government.