Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

The Committee notes the information and statistical data supplied by the Government in its latest report.

In its previous comments, the Committee emphasized the need to complete the lists of occupational diseases contained in section 40 of the Regulations on Occupational Diseases of the Social Security Institute (IKA). The Government indicates in reply that, in view of the evolution of medical and technical knowledge, the IKA has decided to set up a committee to prepare a new, more extensive list of occupational diseases. The Government adds that occupational diseases therein will be classified on the basis of risk factors, in accordance with international standards. The new list will contain an indicative description of the major pathological symptoms as well as the main activities most likely to cause them. The Committee notes this information. It hopes that the Government will take all the necessary measures for the adoption of the new list of occupational diseases in the very near future. It trusts that the list will give full effect to Article 2 of the Convention which has been the subject of its comments for many years. In this respect, the Committee recalls the subjects of its comments:

(a)  Pathological symptoms due to poisoning by lead (section No. 1), poisoning by mercury (section No. 2) and poisoning by arsenic (sections Nos. 15 and 16) are listed limitatively whereas the schedule appended to the Convention is drafted generally and covers all diseases caused by these substances. The list of these pathological symptoms should therefore be made indicative, for example by adding the term "etc." at the end of the left-hand column of sections Nos. 1, 2, 15 and 16.

(b)  Work liable to cause anthrax infection (section No. 25) should also include loading and unloading or transport of merchandise in general, as provided in the Convention.

(c)  The occupational diseases schedules do not seem to contain, as the Convention does, a section on primary epitheliomatous cancer of the skin and the work liable to cause it.