CMNT_TITLE

1. With reference to comments it has been making for several years, the Committee notes that the Government’s report does not contain any new element in response to its previous comments. The Committee is therefore bound to reiterate its comments, which concerned the following points.

1. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the work undertaken to bring the Labour Code and texts for its application up to date is not finished and, therefore, it is not possible to indicate the measures taken in the light of current knowledge as called for in Article 3, paragraph 1, of the Convention. In this regard, the Committee would recall that, under Article 3, paragraph 1, and Article 6, paragraph 2, all appropriate steps shall be taken to ensure effective protection of workers against ionizing radiations and to review maximum permissible doses of ionizing radiations in the light of current knowledge. Referring to its 1992 general observation under this Convention, the Committee would draw the Government’s attention to the revised dose limits for exposure to ionizing radiation established on the basis of new physiological findings by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in its 1990 recommendations. The Government is requested to indicate, in its next report, the steps taken or being considered in relation to the matters raised in the conclusions to the general observation.

2. Article 7, paragraphs 1(b) and 2. In its previous comments, the Committee had noted that there were no provisions in Order No. 1010/SG/CG of 3 July 1968 concerning the protection of workers against ionizing radiation in hospitals and health-care institutions, or in Order No. 72-60/SG/CG of 12 January 1972 on occupational medicine, prohibiting the employment of children under 16 years of age in radiation work and fixing maximum permissible doses for persons between 16 and 18 who are directly engaged in radiation work, as called for by this Article of the Convention. It notes the Government’s indication that, since the revision of the Labour Code and the texts for its application is not finished, no measures have been taken in this regard. The Committee once again expresses the hope that the Government will take the necessary measures to ensure the application of this Article in the near future and requests the Government to indicate, in its next report, the progress made in this regard.

3. The Committee notes with regret that the information provided in the Government’s report contains no reply to the general observation of 1987. The Committee would now call the Government’s attention to paragraphs 16 to 17 of its 1992 general observation under this Convention which concern the occupational exposure during and after an emergency. The Government is requested to indicate whether, in emergency situations, exceptions are permitted to the normally tolerated dose limits for exposure to ionizing radiation and, if so, to indicate the exceptional levels of exposure allowed in these circumstances and to specify the manner in which these circumstances are defined.

2. The Committee trusts that the Government’s next report will contain information on measures taken giving full effect to the Convention with due account given to the Committee’s general observations of 1992, including reference to the 1990 recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP).

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2006.]