Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 (No. 120) - Guinea (Ratification: 1966)

1. The Committee notes the indication provided in the Government's latest report that the Committee's previous comments would be taken into account when the texts regulating occupational safety and health are drafted. The Committee hopes that the texts necessary to ensure the full application of the Convention will be drafted in the near future in consultation with the representative organizations of workers and employers concerned, in accordance with Article 5 of the Convention.

The Committee notes that section 171 of the Labour Code provides that ministerial orders shall determine general measures regulating ventilation, lighting, drinking-water and noise and vibrations in all establishments covered by the Code. The Committee hopes that these orders will be drafted in the near future and that they will ensure the full application of Article 8 (provision of sufficient and suitable ventilation), Article 9 (sufficient and suitable lighting; including, as far as possible, natural lighting), Article 12 (sufficient supply of wholesome drinking-water available to all workers) and Article 18 (measures to ensure that noise and vibrations at the workplace are reduced as far as possible).

Furthermore, the Committee notes that no provision exists to ensure that sufficient and suitable seats are supplied to workers, nor to ensure a reasonable opportunity of using the seats, in accordance with Article 14. The Government is requested to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure the application of this Article.

2. Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government's indication in its report that its previous comments concerning the public service would be taken into account when occupational safety and health regulations are drafted. The Committee would recall that all workers who are mainly engaged in office work, including workers in the public service, are covered by the Convention. The Committee, therefore, hopes that the Government will take all necessary measures in the near future to ensure the full application of the Convention to the public service and requests the Government to indicate, in its next report, the progress made in this regard.

[The Government is asked to report in detail for the period ending 30 June 1994.]