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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending May 2003 and the information it contains in reply to the Committee’s previous request. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing detailed information, particularly on the following aspects of the application of the Convention.

1. Paid educational leave for the purpose of general education. The Committee notes the provisions of the 2002 Employment Act under which paid educational leave is to be granted in the event of examinations taken by the worker as part of a course of study undertaken for personal interest. Please indicate whether other measures have been taken or are envisaged to promote the granting of paid educational leave for the purpose of general, social and civic education (Article 2(b) of the Convention).

2. Paid educational leave for the purpose of trade union education. The Committee notes that, under the General Collective Agreement for Economic Activities, the training of trade union representatives in collective bargaining and labour law forms a part of training in the interests of the employer for the purpose of the application of clauses relating to training and the granting of leave for examinations. Please indicate whether measures have been taken or are envisaged to extend the granting of paid educational leave for the purpose of trade union education to workers other than those with trade union responsibilities (Article 2(c)).

3. Coordination with employment and training policies. The Committee notes the information on the jointly financed programme for education and staff training, which exists within the framework of an active employment policy that places emphasis on lifelong learning. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the manner in which the policy to promote the granting of paid educational leave is coordinated with general policies concerning employment, education and training (Article 4). Also, please continue providing information on how the arrangements for paid educational leave are financed (Article 7).

4. Practical application. Please submit all available statistics concerning, in particular, the number of workers granted paid educational leave, according to the type of training or education undertaken, during the reporting period (Part V of the report form).