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Article 5(b) of the Convention. Collaboration between officials of the labour inspectorate and employers and workers or their organizations. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest the information describing the measures taken in accordance with Article 5(b) of the Convention in order to promote collaboration between the labour inspection services and employers and workers and their organizations with regard to prevention of occupational safety and health risks. It notes that other measures are planned, such as: holding symposiums aimed at increasing employers’ interest in prevention; developing statistics reflecting the real situation with regard to industrial accidents and occupational diseases; finding resources to encourage employers and workers to become involved in achieving the goal of reducing occupational risks; using posters, radio programmes and other media to publicize the importance of occupational safety and health and their impact on the protection of workers and also environmental protection; actions to promote the role and activities of labour inspectors, and also the cooperation of workers during inspections; and, finally, setting up a national tripartite committee for occupational safety and health. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would keep the ILO informed of the practical implementation of such measures, and also of the impact of the measures implemented on changing the situation with regard to occupational health and safety, in terms of industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease. The Government is also requested to indicate whether, as advocated by Paragraph 4(2) of Labour Inspection Recommendation, 1947 (No. 81), safety and health committees are operating within undertakings or establishments and, if so, to send copies of texts concerning their establishment, role and functioning.

Articles 20 and 21. Publication of an annual report on the work of the inspection services. Further to its previous comments and with reference to the Government’s statement that an annual inspection report is being prepared and should be published within the prescribed deadline, the Committee hopes that the necessary steps will be taken as soon as possible and a copy of such a report will be sent immediately to the ILO.

Regional and international cooperation. The Committee notes that a mission from the ILO Bureau for Workers’ Activities (ACTRAV), received in Damascus from 14 to 17 December 2007, was invited to open a seminar of Arab women trade union leaders and meet officials of the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions (ICATU) and also the president of the General Federation of Syrian Trade Unions (GFSTU). Noting that the subjects covered concerned in particular the fight against discrimination, measures to improve working conditions of migrant workers, and also the impact of the vast movement for the privatization of enterprises in the country, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply information to the Office on any involvement of the labour inspection services in any actions contemplated in response to the concerns expressed.