Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

The Committee has noted the information provided by the Government in its report, and in particular the fact that it intends to take the necessary measures to follow up the Committee's comments. Consequently, the Committee hopes that the Government's next report will provide details of the progress made on the following points.

1. The Government confirms that the dependants of a foreign worker cannot receive the benefits provided for by Legislative Decree No. 136 of 1983 relating to occupational accidents, if at the time the accident occurred they were residing outside Lebanon, unless they are nationals of a country granting the same treatment to Lebanese nationals as to their own citizens. In this regard, the Committee notes the Government's intention to amend soon section 10 of Legislative Decree No. 136 so as to bring its provisions into line with the Convention. The Committee hopes that this amendment will be made in the near future so as to guarantee, in accordance with Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention, equality of treatment for citizens and nationals of any other country which has ratified the Convention, without any conditions of residence and irrespective of any reciprocal conditions.

2. With reference to the Committee's previous comments concerning the employment-injury benefits provided for under the social security scheme, the Government indicates that the National Social Security Fund is fully aware of the provisions of the Convention and that its administration envisages amending the provisions of section 9(3) of the Social Security Code, as soon as the occupational accidents and diseases branch is operational. Consequently, the Committee hopes that the Government will be able to take the necessary measures to amend section 9(3) of the Code so as to delete: (a) the reciprocal condition provided for in Chapter 2 of these provisions concerning the right of foreign workers who are nationals of a State which has ratified the Convention -- together with their dependants -- to employment-injury benefits; and (b) the residence condition provided for in Chapter 4 concerning the dependants in question.