CMNT_TITLE

1. The Committee notes with interest the detailed information contained in the Government’s report. In particular, it notes the adoption of the Management of Safety and Health Issues at Work Regulations in 2002 (P.I. 173/2002), which reflect the Guidelines on occupational safety and health management systems (ILO-OSH 2001).

2. Article 1, paragraph 2, of the Convention. Scope of application – fishing and armed forces. The Committee notes with interest the information that the scope of application of the Convention now includes any work on fishing vessels as well as uniformed members of the armed forces on the stated condition that “the intrinsic characteristics of certain activities of the armed forces permit so”. The Committee would be grateful it the Government would provide further details regarding the application in practice of the limited scope of application of the Convention as regards the armed forces.

3. Article 2, paragraph 2. Scope of application – domestic workers. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that domestic servants working in households are excluded from the application of OSH legislation due to practical and legal difficulties in entering and inspecting the workplaces (private dwellings). The Committee hopes that the Government will make efforts to overcome those difficulties to ensure that domestic servants are also provided adequate protection and requests the Government to keep the Committee informed of any progress in this respect.