Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention (Revised), 1934 (No. 42) - Brazil (Ratification: 1936)

In its report, the Government considers that the reinsertion of anthrax infection into the national schedule of occupational diseases, which had been done by virtue of Order No. 10 of 23 November 1964, would once again result in inequalities since there are other diseases which are contracted through contact with infected animals. It is of the opinion that it would be necessary to include in the schedule of occupational diseases an item similar to the one appearing in the schedule (amended in 1980) of the Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 (No. 121), which considers as occupational diseases "infectious or parasitic diseases contracted in an occupation where there is a particular risk of contamination". Furthermore, in its communication in reply to the Committee's 1990 direct request, the Government states that it will continue to study the possibility of inserting anthrax infection into the schedule of occupational diseases. The Committee takes due note of this information.

The Committee therefore hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures in the near future to bring the schedule of occupational diseases established by Decree No. 83.080 of 24 January 1979 into conformity with the Convention as regards anthrax infection, either by including anthrax infection as such in the schedule of occupational diseases and by including among the work that is liable to cause it, the loading and unloading or transport of merchandise, or by inserting an item concerning infectious or parasitic diseases contracted in an occupation where there is a particular risk of contamination, provided that it is accompanied by a schedule of the work involving exposure to the risk concerned as set out in the right-hand column of item No. 29 (as amended in 1980) in the schedule to Convention No. 121, and particularly the types of work mentioned in point (c) "work handling animals, animal carcasses, parts of such carcasses or merchandise which may have been contaminated by animals, animal carcasses or parts of such carcasses".

The Committee requests the Government to indicate any progress achieved in this respect.