Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2006, publiée 96ème session CIT (2007)

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report.

2. Part IV of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s reference to the activities of the National Occupational Safety and Health Group, which was established to ensure the application in practice of national legislative provisions and is made up of representatives of the central administration of the State, national trade unions, heads of provincial occupational health programmes of the Ministry of Public Health, and occupational safety subdirectors from provincial labour directorates. The Government indicates in its report that the objectives of this Group are as follows: to assess the occupational safety and health situation and provide guidance in respect of the policies and actions to be adopted by bodies and provinces in order to contribute to reducing cases of occupational accidents and work-related deaths; to strengthen the Protected Areas Movement (Movimiento de Areas Protegidas), as a basis for mass movements to improve working conditions, reduce accidents, fires and occupational illnesses and create a culture of occupational safety and health; and to strengthen communication-related work, by stepping up the activities of the public welfare campaign on occupational safety and health, and through activities relating to the National Occupational Safety and Health Day. The Committee notes the statistical information on occupational illnesses diagnosed in the country in 2003 and 2004, which shows a general reduction in the number of cases of illnesses, yet an increase in some of them. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing information on the application of the Convention in practice and to send, with its next report, extracts from inspection service reports and information indicating the number of workers covered by the measures adopted to apply the Convention, and the number and nature of the violations that have been reported.