Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2003, publiée 92ème session CIT (2004)

The Committee refers the Government to its observation, and notes with interest the detailed information on the inspection activities concerning occupational health and safety for 2002, and the labour inspectorate’s conclusions and views on the improvement of its services. It requests the Government to provide a copy of the Health and Safety at Work Law of 1989, as amended, and of any other texts relating to the subjects covered by the Convention and to indicate the status of the process of enactment of the draft Employment Law.

It also asks the Government to provide information on the structural changes announced for the inspection services and on the measures taken or envisaged to strike a balance between the proactive and reactive measures taken by inspectors in view of the resources available and inspection priorities.

Noting that, from a labour inspection point of view, the issue of occupational diseases is not adequately taken into account despite the exposure of certain workers to occupational health risks such as asbestosis, loss of hearing, dermatoses or asthma, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that full effect is given, both in law and in practice, to Article 14 of the Convention which provides that the inspectors shall be notified not only of industrial accidents but also of cases of occupational disease, and that relevant statistics are published in an annual report of the inspection activities as stipulated by point (g) of Article 21.

The Committee notes with interest the information in the annual inspection report for 2002 on the infringements of the legislation which gave rise to serious employment accidents and court decisions. Noting, however, that this information concerns only civil compensation awarded to victims and not any penal sanctions imposed on the employers (Article 18), the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide additional information on this matter.