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

Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 (No. 120) - Jordan (Ratification: 1965)

I. The Committee notes the information communicated in the Government's report and the comments communicated by the Amman Chamber of Industry. In comments it has been making for many years, the Committee has referred to the absence of provisions in national law to give effect to Article 10 (maintenance of a comfortable and steady temperature at the workplace), Article 11 (work stations arranged so that there is no harmful effect on the health of the worker), Article 14 (sufficient and suitable seats for all workers), Article 15 (suitable facilities for workers to change, leave and dry clothing that is not worn at work), Article 16 (underground or windowless premises in conformity with appropriate standards of hygiene), Article 17 (the protection of workers against substances, processes and techniques which are obnoxious, unhealthy or toxic, including, where necessary, the provision of personal protective equipment) and Article 18 of the Convention (reduction of noise and vibration at the workplace). Since 1976, the Government has referred to the draft Labour Code which is to give effect to the above provisions of the Convention. In its report of February 1991, the Government has indicated that efforts were being made in the Legislative Council to promulgate the draft Code and to submit it to the Council of the Nation.

II. Article 1 of the Convention. 1. The Committee notes from the Government's latest report that the draft Labour Code provides for measures to be taken to ensure the application, in industrial establishments, of Articles 10 and 16 of the Convention. The Committee would recall that, by virtue of Article 1, the provisions of the Convention shall be applied to establishments, institutions and administrative services in which the workers are mainly engaged in office work. The Government is requested to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure the application of Article 10 (comfortable and steady temperature at the workplace) and Article 16 (appropriate standards of hygiene for underground or windowless premises) in establishments where the workers are mainly engaged in office work.

2. The Committee notes from the latest version of the draft Labour Code made available to the Office that civil servants, public administration and municipalities are excluded from the provisions of the Code and shall be covered by special rules. The Government is requested to indicate, in its next report, the measures taken or envisaged to ensure the application of the Convention to all workers in establishments, institutions and administrative services who are mainly engaged in office work, including civil servants.

III. The Committee notes the Government's indication in its latest report that ministerial decrees based upon the advice given by the competent official commissions shall ensure that practical and adequate measures be taken to reduce air pollution, noise and vibration (Articles 17 and 18), that comfortable chairs for male and female workers are provided (Article 14) and that protective equipment is used by workers. The Government is requested to indicate the measures taken to adopt the ministerial decrees referred to and to supply a copy of any relevant texts adopted in this regard.

The Committee trusts that the Labour Code and implementing ministerial orders and any other legislation necessary to ensure the application of the above-mentioned Articles to the establishments covered by the Convention will be adopted in the very near future and that the Government will also, in accordance with Article 4(b), give such effect as may be possible and desirable under national conditions to the provisions of the Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Recommendation, 1964 (No. 120).

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