Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

1. Article 5 of the Convention. In its previous comments the Committee noted that, according to the statistics provided by the Government and to the ILO Year Book of Labour Statistics, 1991, the proportion of protected employees working in Bolivian industrial undertakings was lower than the proportion prescribed by the Convention ("75 per cent of all employees in industrial undertakings ..."). In these circumstances the Committee asked the Government to indicate the measures taken or contemplated gradually to extend the employment injury branch of the social security scheme to new categories of workers or employees in industrial undertakings. Since the Government's report contains no reply on this matter, the Committee is bound to express, once again, the hope that the Government will adopt the necessary measures for this purpose. It also asks the Government to provide updated statistical data of the total number of active insured persons employed in industrial undertakings as defined in Article 1(c) of the Convention, and the total number of employees in those undertakings. 2. Article 7. The Government states in its report that it has noted the Committee's recommendation concerning commuting accident coverage. The Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report the progress made in this respect. 3. Article 8. In its answer to the Committee's previous comments, the Government states that it has noted the recommendation that, in a future edition or revision of the Social Security Code, an updated list of occupational diseases should be published, along with the activities likely to cause them, in conformity with schedule 1 annexed to the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to indicate any progress made in this area in its future reports. 4. Article 9, paragraph 3. With regard to the previous comments, the Government indicates in particular that insured persons and beneficiaries suffering from chronic diseases who no longer qualify for medical care provided through social security are entitled, unconditionally, to benefits in kind in hospitals of the Ministry of Public Health. The Committee notes this statement. It points out, however, that the Government has not provided the legislative, regulatory or other texts stipulating the type of medical care provided, in accordance with section 113 of Decree No. 14643 of 1977, in the specialized centres of the Ministry of Social Security and Public Health. It therefore asks the Government once again to provide these texts. 5. The Committee notes with interest that the Government considers that assistance from the ILO Regional Adviser for Latin America would be most useful in drafting the report in the manner established in the report form adopted by the Governing Body with regard to Articles 13, 14 and 18 (in relation to Articles 19 and 20), and 21 (in relation to Articles 14 and 18) of the Convention. The Committee notes this statement with interest. It expresses the hope that the Government will be able, possibly with the assistance of the Regional Adviser, to provide the above-mentioned information.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.