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The Committee refers the Government to its observation and would be grateful if it would provide additional information on the following matters.

Article 9, paragraph 3, of the Convention. In-service training for labour inspectors in agriculture. The Committee notes with interest that with support from the ILO, a course on the Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184), was organized for labour inspectors and that there are to be courses on legislation shortly to be adopted in order to facilitate the implementation of the Convention. It also notes that inspectors attended general courses on the safety of machinery and ergonomic risks, as well as training on risk prevention in the forestry sector. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the proportion of the inspectors who participated in the above courses and training, and their distribution as regards predominantly agricultural areas.

Article 12, paragraph 1. Cooperation between the inspection services and other government services with a view to preventing risks in the agricultural sector. The Committee notes with interest that frequent contact is maintained between the inspection services and the Ministry of Stockraising, Agriculture and Fishing, and that in 2006 the General Labour Inspectorate produced a comprehensive report for the Ministry’s specialized services on risk identification and preventive measures in stockraising. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide a copy of the abovementioned report.

Article 13. Collaboration between the labour inspectorate in agriculture and the social partners. The Committee notes with interest that bipartite meetings have been held with workers in the agricultural sector in anticipation of an inspection campaign in the north of the country to identify wage-related issues and seek permanent solutions, particularly for cane sugar workers. The Government indicates that there are to be courses for workers and employers on their rights and on the legislation in force. The Committee requests the Government to provide details of the content of the discussions that took place in the abovementioned meetings, and on the outcome of the meetings.

Article 17. Associating labour inspectors in preventive control in agricultural undertakings. The Government states that although labour inspectors are responsible for application of the existing legislation, the National Directorate of Firefighters and the National Directorate of the Environment give prior advice about new processes and new machines. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would take measures to ensure that the competent authority determines the cases and the conditions in which labour inspectors are associated with the preventive control of new plant, new materials or substances and new methods of handling or processing products which appear likely to constitute a threat to health or safety, in accordance with this provision of the Convention. The Government is asked to provide information on any developments in this respect.

Articles 26 and 27. Annual report on the work of the inspection services in agriculture. The Committee refers the Government to its comments on this point in its direct request on Convention No. 81, and hopes that the Government will ensure that an annual report on the work of the labour inspection services in agriculture is published by the central authority, in accordance with Article 26, either as a separate report or as part of the general annual report. It hopes that the report will contain the information required by clauses (a) to (g) of Article 27 and that a copy will be duly sent to the ILO.