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Article 7 of the Convention. Young persons and women. In its previous comments the Committee requested the Government to indicate the meaning of the terms “manual transport of loads whose weight involves physical effort” and “work classified as exceeding their psycho-physical motor strength”. The Committee notes the Government’s information regarding the List of Hazardous Jobs published in La Gaceta (Official Journal) No. 221 of 14 November 2006, and the Ministerial Resolution on Health and Safety at Work on the maximum weight of load which may be transported manually by a worker. According to the Government, the phrases whose meaning the Committee queried, refer, in particular, to article 3(f) of the Resolution “Heavy continuous lifting, handling, transporting sacks, barrels, boxes, crates of drinks, quarried rocks, in a repetitive manner”. In the Committee’s view, doubts still remain as to the scope of the restrictions on the employment of young people. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the maximum load that may be lifted or transported occasionally by women between 15 and 18 years of age, and for men.
Part V of the report form. Application in practice. In its previous comments the Committee noted that, according to the transitory provision of the 1998 Ministerial Resolution on health and safety relating to the maximum weight of a load which may be transported manually by a worker, enterprises and work centres will have a period of not more than one year to modify operations and processes and adopt measures for the manual transport of loads, and asked the Government to provide information on the practical implementation of this Resolution and hence, the provisions of the Convention. It reminded the Government that this information should include summaries of the reports of the General Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health, which is responsible, pursuant to section 17 of the Resolution, for supervising and verifying compliance with the Resolution’s provisions; and statistics on the number and nature of contraventions reported and the action taken on them. The Committee notes that the Government has not provided this information. It requests it to do so and also to provide detailed statistics resulting from the work carried out by the labour inspectorate.
Further to its observation, the Committee wishes to draw the Government’s attention to the following points.
1. Article 7 of the Convention. Young persons. With regard to the restrictions on the employment of young persons, the Committee notes section 15 of the Resolution referred to above which prohibits the engagement of young persons under 16 years of age in the manual transport of loads at workplaces. Furthermore, section 16 of the same Resolution provides that young persons of 18 years of age may not be engaged in the manual transport of loads whose weight involves physical effort, nor in work classified as exceeding their psychophysical motor strength. Nevertheless, this Resolution does not contain provisions specifying the types of work covered by section 16 and therefore the performance of which is prohibited for persons under 18 years of age. In these conditions, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the meaning of the expressions "manual transport of loads whose weight involves physical effort" and "work classified as exceeding their psycho-physical motor strength". It also requests the Government to indicate whether there is a list of types of work prohibited for young persons under 18 years of age. In this connection, it draws the Government’s attention to the ILO publication Maximum weight in lifting and carrying (Occupational Safety and Health Series, No. 59, Geneva, 1988), in which it is indicated that 15 kg is the limit recommended from an ergonomic point of view for the admissible weight of loads to be transported occasionally by women between 15 and 18 years of age and the weight for men in the same age group is 35 kg.
2. Part V of the report form. While noting that, according to the transitory provision of the 1998 Ministerial Resolution on health and safety relating to the maximum weight of a load which may be transported manually by a worker, enterprises and work centres will have a period of no longer than one year to modify operations and processes and adopt measures for the manual transport of loads, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application of this Resolution in practice and consequently on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention. It reminds the Government that this information should include summaries of the reports of the General Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health which, under section 17 of the Resolution, is responsible for supervising and controlling compliance with the provisions of the Resolution, as well as statistics on the number and nature of contraventions reported and the action taken on them.
The Committee notes the Government’s report. It also notes with interest the Ministerial Health and Safety Resolution of 1998 respecting the maximum weight of a load which may be transported manually by a worker, which sets forth minimum occupational safety and health measures to protect workers performing tasks related to the manual handling of loads. It notes in particular with satisfaction that, under section 12 of the Resolution, a maximum weight is established for the handling of loads which may be transported manually by men and women, thereby giving effect to Articles 3 and 7 (Women) of the Convention.
The Committee is addressing a request directly to the Government on other matters.
The Committee notes the Government’s report.
1. The Committee notes the Government’s indication to the effect that the General Directorate of Hygiene and Health at Work, which comes under the aegis of the Ministry of Labour, is currently conducting a study with a view to preparing regulations taking into consideration, on the one hand, all the conditions specific to the manual transport of loads with a view to fixing the maximum weight of loads that can be lifted and transported manually by one worker and, on the other hand, the Committee’s comments, which will result in the harmonization of legislation with the provisions of the Convention. The Committee expresses strongly the hope that these regulations will be adopted in the near future and will include provisions ensuring effective protection of workers against hazards involved in the manual transport of loads, in accordance with the following provisions of the Convention, the application of which has been the subject of its comments for 20 years: the establishment of a maximum weight for any load - not only bags and crates as provided in section 182 of the Labour Code - whose weight is likely to jeopardize the health or safety of the worker (Article 3 of the Convention); the due consideration of all the conditions in which the manual transport of loads is to be performed, namely the nature of the work, physiological characteristics, climatic conditions, and the difference between the lifting and the transport of loads (Article 4). Noting once again that national legislation does not always contain provisions specifically on the manual transport of loads by women and young workers aged under 18 years, the Committee recalls that Article 7 of the Convention specifies that where women and young workers are engaged in such work, the maximum weight of the loads shall be substantially less than that permitted for adult male workers. In addition, in regard to young workers, the Committee observes once again that section 123 of the Labour Code prohibits employment of young persons under 14 years old in industrial enterprises. In this context, the Committee recalls that under Article 1(c) of the Convention the term "young worker" means a worker under 18 years of age. It indicates also that in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention the limits on the employment of minors and the maximum weight fixed shall be applied to all branches of economic activity (agriculture, commerce, transport) for which there is a labour inspection system.
2. Part V of the report form. Further to its previous comments, the Committee requests the Government to supply information on the practical application of the provisions of the Convention. This information should include summaries of inspection service reports (in particular concerning decisions taken by the labour inspectors fixing the maximum weight of loads that may be transported for distances equal to or greater than 150 varas (about 180 metres), by virtue of section 182(3) of the Labour Code, statistics on the number and nature of contraventions noted, on the measures taken in this regard, as well as information on the technical devices used (section 183(1) of the Labour Code).
The Committee notes the Government's report.
1. The Committee notes with interest the ministerial decision respecting occupational safety and health which establishes general and minimum standards relating to occupational safety and health. The Committee notes that, by virtue of section 3 of this decision, that the Ministry of Labour shall publish, under this instrument, rules and directives relating to safety and health in the various fields referred to in Annex 1 to the decision, which include the handling and storing of loads and materials. The Committee hopes that the text which is adopted to protect workers against the risks involved in the manual transport of loads will give full effect to the following provisions of the Convention, on the application of which it has been commenting for several years:
Article 3. With reference to its previous comments concerning section 182 of the Labour Code, the Committee hopes that a maximum weight will be established for any load whose weight is likely to jeopardize the health or safety of the worker.
Article 4. The Committee also hopes that all the conditions will be taken into account in which the manual transport of loads is to be performed (the nature of the work, physiological characteristics, climatic conditions, and the difference between the lifting and transport of loads).
Article 7. The Committee noted in its previous comments that no provisions specifically limit the manual transport of loads by women and young workers.
The Committee recalls that by virtue of Article 7 of the Convention, the manual transport of loads not only has to be limited, but the maximum weight established in the case of women and young workers has to be substantially less than that permitted for adult male workers.
The Committee notes that section 123 of the Labour Code prohibits the employment in industrial undertakings of young persons under 14 years of age, and that it would therefore be necessary, when limiting the manual transport of loads and the maximum weight that may be carried by young workers, to take into account that, for the purposes of the Convention, the term "young worker" means a worker under 18 years of age.
It should also be noted that the limitation placed upon the employment of young persons and the maximum weight which is established should apply to all sectors of economic activity (agriculture, trade and transport) in respect of which a system of labour inspection is maintained, in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention.
The Committee hopes that the provisions necessary to give full effect to Article 7 of the Convention will be included in the regulations which are to be prepared.
2. The Committee notes the establishment of the National Occupational Safety and Health Board.
3. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee requests the Government to supply information on the application of the provisions of the Convention, in conformity with point V of the report form. It would be desirable for this information to include extracts from reports of the inspection services (particularly relating to decisions which have been taken by labour inspectors which establish maximum weights that can be transported for distances which are equal to or greater than 150 varas (approximately 180 metres) by virtue of section 182(3) of the Labour Code), statistics on the number and nature of contraventions reported and the action taken on them, as well as information on the mechanical means used (section 183(1) of the Labour Code).
The Committee notes the Government's report according to which the Directorate of Occupational Safety and Health is preparing regulations based on its comments which, in accordance with Article 8 of the Convention, will be transmitted for consultation with organisations of employers and workers, once it has been revised by senior officials in the Ministry.
The Committee hopes that the above regulations will give full effect to the following Articles of the Convention, which have been the subject of its previous comments, and that the Government will supply a copy of the above regulations when they have been adopted.
Article 3 of the Convention. In its previous comments, the Committee referred to section 182 of the Labour Code, by virtue of which the weight of sacks containing merchandise of any kind which are to be carried by manpower shall not exceed 125 libras in all, and it observed that, in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, the restriction of the weight must apply not only to sacks but also to any other load whose weight is likely to jeopardise the health or safety of the worker.
The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to amend section 182 of the Labour Code so that the maximum weight of 125 libras applies to any load which is likely to jeopardise the health or safety of the worker.
Article 4 of the Convention. The Committee notes that section 182 of the Labour Code, which limits the maximum weight to be carried by manpower to 125 libras, provides in subsection 3 that if the distance is not less than 150 varas the weight shall be established by the labour inspector. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the effect given in practice to section 182(3) of the Labour Code and to supply copies of decisions that have been taken by labour inspectors establishing the maximum weights that can be transported for distances of not less than 150 varas. The Committee also notes that the provisions of Chapter X of the Labour Code (weight of sacks to be carried by manpower) do not refer to the other conditions in which the work is to be performed: climate, topography or frequency. Nor is a distinction made between lifting and transport.
The Committee hopes that the provisions of the regulations which are currently being formulated will take into account the conditions in which the transport is performed by establishing the maximum weight of a load which may be transported manually.
Article 6. The Committee notes section 183 of the Labour Code, according to which merchandise in sacks or boxes weighing more than 125 libras shall not be transported except by mechanical means.
The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the effect given in practice to section 183, on the mechanical means employed and the weight of the loads transported in this manner.
Article 7. The Committee notes that no provisions specifically limit the manual transport of loads by women and young workers.
The Committee points out that by virtue of Article 7 of the Convention, not only must the manual transport of loads be limited, but the maximum weight of such loads, where women and young workers are engaged in their transport, shall be substantially less than that permitted for adult male workers.
The Committee notes that section 123 of the Labour Code prohibits the employment in industrial undertakings of young persons under 14 years of age, and that it would therefore be necessary, when limiting the manual transport of loads and the maximum weight that may be carried by young workers, to take into account that, for the purposes of the Convention, the term "young workers" means a worker under 18 years of age.
It should also be specified that the limitation on the employment of young persons and the maximum weight that is established should apply to all sectors of economic activity (agriculture, trade, transport) in respect of which a system of labour inspection is maintained, in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention.
The Committee hopes that the provisions necessary to give full effect to Article 7 of the Convention will be included in the regulations that are being prepared.