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The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report and the attached legislation. However, it would be grateful to be provided with further details on the following points.

Article 2 of the Convention. Scope of application. The Committee notes that the draft Bill issuing the general conditions of service of public servants has still not been finalized and that the Government undertakes to provide a copy once it has been adopted. Recalling that it has been making this request since 1992, the Committee hopes that the Government will be in a position to provide a copy of the new Act with its next report. The Committee also notes Executive Decrees Nos. 02-89 of 2 March 2002, 2000-278 of 5 October 2000 and 05-102 of 26 March 2005, issued under section 4 of Act No. 90-11 of 21 April 1990 concerning labour relations, which establishes a specific labour relations system for certain categories of workers. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether special measures have been adopted for domestic workers, who are also referred to in section 4 of the above Act and, if so, to provide a copy.

Article 4. Partial payment in kind. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that cases of payment in kind have not been reported at the enterprise level for several years. It also notes that a definitive solution was found in December 2005 to bring an end to the isolated cases of payment in kind by certain public enterprises with stocks of unsold products. The Committee would be grateful to be provided with additional information on the precise nature and extent of the problem, and on the measures taken by the Government in practice so that wage arrears can no longer be settled by payments in kind that are not in conformity with the legislation.

Articles 5 and 6. Direct payment of wages and prohibition from limiting the freedom of workers to dispose of their wages. The Committee notes that the Government refers to sections 6, 80 and 86 of Act No. 90-11 of 21 April 1990 concerning labour relations as giving full effect to these Articles of the Convention. The Committee considers that, although the obligation for the payment of wages directly to the worker may be inferred from section 88 of the Act, which provides that “the employer shall be obliged to pay each worker regularly and at the end of each period specified the remuneration that is due”, the prohibition on employers from limiting the freedom of workers to dispose of their wages is not established either explicitly or implicitly by any provision. The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate the measures adopted or envisaged to bring the legislation into conformity with the Convention on this point.

Article 7. Works stores. The Committee notes that, under the terms of section 94 of Act No. 90-11 of 21 April 1990, the Participation Committee manages social works within the employer institution. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that Decree No. 82-179 of 15 May 1982 allows the establishment within employer institutions, among others, of “consumer cooperatives” administered directly by social works committees composed of workers elected by the staff of the employer institution.

Article 13. Day and place of the payment of wages. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that enterprise collective agreements provide that the payment of workers’ wages is made by bank transfer to the bank or postal account that the worker has to open. While wishing to receive copies of enterprise collective agreements containing provisions of this nature, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the manner in which workers, other than those receiving payment by means of bank or postal transfer, are guaranteed to be paid their wages on working days only and at or near the workplace, and not in stores for the retail sale of merchandise or in places of amusement.

Part V of the report form. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide general information on the application of the Convention, including, for instance, extracts from the reports of the inspection services containing information on the number and nature of infringements reported, copies of official studies related to the protection of wages or any other information that would allow the Committee to assess the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice.

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The Committee notes the Government’s report and the information supplied in reply to the previous direct request. It also notes with interest the promulgation of Executive Decree No. 96-98 of 6 March 1996 on the books and special registers to be kept by the employer which provides for the maintenance of payroll records in conformity with Article 15(d) of the Convention.

Article 2 of the Convention. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that the draft bill regarding the conditions of service of public servants, referred to in section 3 of Act No. 90-11 of 21 April 1990 concerning labour relations, has been finalized and is now before the Parliament. It requests the Government to supply the text of the relevant provisions of the new legislation as soon as it is adopted. While noting the adoption of Executive Decree No. 97-473 of 8 December 1997 on part-time work and No. 97-474 of 8 December 1997 on home work, the Committee would appreciate receiving a copy of the regulations applicable to the categories of workers referred to in section 4 of the abovementioned Act once they are issued.

Article 4. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, due to the serious economic recession, some isolated cases of payment of wages in kind have been reported in certain public enterprises which are experiencing chronic problems of wage arrears and which have accumulated large quantities of unsold products. In this connection, the Committee recalls that in accordance with the requirements of the Convention, the partial payment of wages in kind may only be authorized in industries or occupations where it is customary or desirable, and that, when authorized, measures should be taken to ensure that allowances in kind are appropriate for the personal use and benefit of the worker and his/her family and that their value is fair and reasonable. The Committee therefore asks the Government to indicate any measures taken to this end. As regards wage arrears, the Committee requests the Government to supply in its next report detailed information on the scale of the problem (i.e. number of workers affected, amount of wages owed, number of enterprises concerned) and the measures taken: (i) to settle existing debts and to ensure timely payment of wages; (ii) to strengthen supervision of payment of wages, notably through the reinforcement of the activities of the labour inspectorate; and (iii) to ensure effective enforcement of appropriate sanctions. The Committee points out that payments in kind may not be deemed to represent a solution to the problem of wage arrears, and stresses that measures taken to reimburse wage arrears should not result in the violation of other provisions of the Convention.

Article 5. Recalling that the 1990 Act on labour relations does not explicitly provide that the payment of wages should be made directly to the worker concerned, the Committee asks the Government to indicate measures taken to give effect to this Article.

Article 6. The Committee is bound to recall that this Article calls for an appropriate legislative provision specifically prohibiting employers from limiting in any manner the freedom of workers to dispose of their wages. It therefore requests the Government to indicate the measures it intends to take to give effect to the Convention in this regard.

Article 7. In the absence of a Government response on this point, the Committee is bound to reiterate its request for additional information with respect to the practice of operating works stores and services designed to raise the workers’ standards of living as well as any measures taken to give effect to this Article of the Convention.

Article 13. In the absence of any reply to this point in the report, the Committee is bound to reiterate its request regarding measures taken to ensure the payment of wages on working days only, at or near the workplace, and to prohibit payments in retail stores and in places of amusement except in the case of persons employed therein.

Part V of the report form. The Committee finally requests the Government to supply information on the application of the Convention in practice, including, for example, extracts of official reports or statistical information on inspection visits, the number and nature of violations reported and sanctions imposed. The Committee considers such information to be of particular importance in the light of the Government’s reference to cases of delayed payment of wages and wage payment in kind.

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Article 2 of the Convention. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government's statement that the provisions on the conditions of service of public servants and other categories of employees, referred to in section 3 of Act No. 90-11 of 21 April 1990, concerning labour relations, have been enacted. It requests the Government to provide a copy of the conditions of service and other provisions that relate to the protection of wages. The Committee also notes that specific provisions governing the categories of workers referred to in section 4 of the Act are currently being prepared. It requests the Government to supply a copy of these regulations when they are adopted.

Articles 6 and 7. The Committee notes the Government's statement that sections 159 and 160 of Ordinance No. 75-31 of 29 April 1975, concerning works stores, have not been retained in the April 1990 Act because they had fallen into obsolescence and that no pressure is exerted upon workers to use works stores or services. It also notes the statement that these services, where they exist, are provided in the context of social measures designed to raise the standards of living of the workers. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in future reports on any change in these practices and on any measures taken to give effect to these Articles of the Convention.

Article 13. The Committee notes the Government's explanation concerning the absence of provisions corresponding to section 151 of Ordinance No. 75-31, prohibiting the payment of wages on rest days or in bars, shops or places of amusement, and that wages are generally paid by employers into workers' post office or bank accounts. It recalls that the Convention applies not only to so-called "salaried employees", but to all persons to whom wages are paid or payable in virtue of a contract of employment (Articles 1 and 2), and it requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure that effect is given to this Article when wages are paid directly to the worker in cash.

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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 following matters raised in its previous direct request:

The Committee took note of the Act No. 90-11 of 21 April 1990, respecting labour relations referred to in the Government's last report. It notes that section 3 of the Act makes special statutory provisions regarding civil servants and some other categories of workers and that section 4 authorizes special provisions to be made by regulations in respect of certain categories of workers. It would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the statutory provisions referred to in section 3 and the regulations made under section 4 concerning the specific system for certain categories of workers (Article 2 of the Convention).

The Committee also notes that the Act does not contain provisions corresponding to sections 159 and 160 and section 151(1) of the Ordinance No. 75-31 of 29 April 1975 that gave effect to Articles 6 and 7 and Article 13 of the Convention, respectively. Noting that this Ordinance is repealed in virtue of section 157 of the Act, the Committee would be glad if the Government would supply information on measures taken to prohibit employers from limiting in any manner the freedom of the workers to dispose of their wages (Article 6); to guarantee the freedom of workers to make use of works stores or services (Article 7(1)); to ensure, where access to other stores or services is not possible, that goods are sold and services are provided at fair and reasonable prices or that such stores and services are not operated for profit (Article 7(2)); and to ensure the payment of wages on working days only, at or near the workplace, and to prohibit payments in retail shops and in places of amusement except in the case of persons employed therein (Article 13).

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The Committee takes note of the Act No. 90-11 of 21 April 1990, respecting labour relations referred to in the Government's report. It notes that section 3 of the Act makes special statutory provisions regarding civil servants and some other categories of workers and that section 4 authorises special provisions to be made by regulations in respect of certain categories of workers. It would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the statutory provisions referred to in section 3 and the regulations made under section 4 concerning the specific system for certain categories of workers (Article 2 of the Convention).

The Committee also notes that the Act does not contain provisions corresponding to sections 159 and 160 and section 151(1) of the Ordinance No. 75-31 of 29 April 1975 that gave effect to Articles 6 and 7 and Article 13 of the Convention, respectively. Noting that this Ordinance is repealed in virtue of section 157 of the Act, the Committee would be glad if the Government would supply information on measures taken to prohibit employers from limiting in any manner the freedom of the workers to dispose of their wages (Article 6); to guarantee the freedom of workers to make use of works stores or services (Article 7(1)); to ensure, where access to other stores or services is not possible, that goods are sold and services are provided at fair and reasonable prices or that such stores and services are not operated for profit (Article 7(2)); and to ensure the payment of wages on working days only, at or near the workplace, and to prohibit payments in retail shops and in places of amusement except in the case of persons employed therein (Article 13).