Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

1. With reference to the observation, the Committee requests the Government to provide additional information on the following points.

2. Article 7 of the Convention. The assignment of women and young workers to manual transport of loads. (a) Young persons. In its previous comments the Committee asked the Government to provide information concerning the meaning of the terms “work beyond their strength” and “dangerous to their health”, and on the relevant legal provisions prohibiting the employment of young persons under 18 years of age. The Committee also noted that the list of industries and types of work that are dangerous or unhealthy, established in sections 79 and 80 of the Occupational Hygiene and Safety Regulations of 1973, does not include manual transport of loads. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it had taken note of the issue raised by the Committee in respect of adopting laws that limit the work of young persons and indicate the types of work that include manual transport of loads. In consequence, the Committee once again trusts that the Government will take, in the near future, the necessary steps in this regard. It requests the Government to provide copies of the legislative texts once they have been adopted.

(b) Women workers. In relation to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that it has taken note of the ILO publication Maximum weights in load lifting and carrying (Occupational Safety and Health Series, No. 59, Geneva, 1988). The Committee trusts, once again, that the Government will review section 223 of the Occupational Hygiene and Safety Regulations, which prescribe a limit of 20 kg for loads transported manually by women, in the light of the recommendations contained in the abovementioned ILO publication. Those recommendations establish, from an ergonomic point of view, that 15 kg is the admissible weight limit for occasional lifting and carrying performed by women aged between 15 and 45 years. The Committee requests the Government to communicate a copy of the respective legislative texts as soon as they are adopted.

(c) Young workers and male adults. With regard to the establishment of different maximum weight limits for young workers and male adults, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that, once regulations on this matter have been established, it will provide the Committee with a copy thereof. The Committee hopes, once again, that the Government will soon take appropriate measures to establish the permissible maximum weight limits for loads transported manually by young workers and that these limits will be much lower than for adults. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the text of the relevant regulations once they have been adopted. To this end, the Committee requests the Government to refer to the ILO publication Maximum weights in load lifting and carrying (Occupational Safety and Health Series, No. 59, Geneva, 1988), which also indicates the maximum permissible weight limits for loads that may be transported manually by young workers in accordance with their age and sex.

3. Article 5. Training and instructions in working techniques to workers assigned to manual transport of loads. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that a manual provides workers with training, instruction and information in working techniques. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of this manual with its next report.

4. Part IV of the report form. Practical application of the Convention. The Committee notes that the statistical information does not correspond to the contraventions established under the laws and regulations applicable to  manual transport of loads. The Committee hopes that the Government will be able to establish such statistical information, including information on the number of workers covered by the measures adopted to ensure the application of the Convention, the number and nature of contraventions reported, as well as extracts from labour inspection reports and requests the Government to provide information in this respect with its next report.