Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 (No. 120) - Algeria (Ratification: 1969)

Other comments on C120

Observation

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Article 14 of the Convention. Suitable seats for workers. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the Government’s report is confined to reiterating that it is planned to introduce into the occupational safety and health legislation a provision requiring employers to provide workers with a sufficient number of seats and to allow their reasonable use, in accordance with Article 14 of the Convention. In this respect, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the guidance contained in Paragraphs 42 to 44 of the Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Recommendation, 1964 (No. 120). The Committee hopes that the Government will be in a position in the very near future to report progress in the preparation of national provisions giving effect to Article 14 of the Convention.

Article 18. Protection against noise and vibrations. In reply to the Committee’s previous comments, in which it requested the Government to take all the necessary measures to give effect to this Article of the Convention with regard to vibrations, the Government indicates that vibrations are a direct consequence of high-intensity noise and that the protection of workers employed in commerce and offices against vibrations is accordingly covered by sections 15 and 16 of Executive Decree No. 91-05 of 19 January 1991, issuing requirements respecting noise. The Government adds that these provisions will be reviewed in the context of the revision of the labour legislation. The Committee understands that the Government is referring to acoustic vibrations. It emphasizes that, in addition to acoustic vibrations, the Convention refers to vibrations transmitted throughout the body by solid structures, which constitute a specific risk and require specific measures for their reduction when they are likely to cause harmful effects to workers. The Committee requests the Government, in the context of the revision of the labour legislation, to take appropriate measures to reduce the harmful effects of vibrations, in accordance with Article 18 of the Convention.

Part IV of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the Government’s affirmation that it is constantly attentive, through the work of its prevention and supervisory bodies, to ensuring compliance with labour standards and guaranteeing optimal occupational safety and health conditions. To enable the Committee to assess the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice, the Government is requested to provide a general appreciation of the application of the Convention in practice, including for example extracts from the reports of the inspection services and, where such statistics are available, information concerning the number of workers covered by the legislation, the number and nature of the contraventions reported, etc.