Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 (No. 120) - Finland (Ratification: 1968)

I. The Committee notes with interest the information provided in the Government's report concerning the number of new legislation in order to apply the Convention. It also notes the comments made by the Central Organization of Trade Unions (SAK) and the Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals in Finland (AKAVA) provided in the Government's report reflecting the overall situation in practice of employees working in warehouses, shops and offices. The Central Organization of Trade Unions (SAK) pointed out that stress was still an important negative factor to observe in this area, for the incidence of sick leave and premature retirement due to working pressure had increased and, that, at the same time, appealing to the guidelines of their organization, employers had been reluctant to pay salaries for sick leave due to, for example, exhaustion. As concerns the growing number of employees working in shops, service stations and kiosks, threats and acts of violence against them had increased. In contrast, employers often had refused to provide for their personal security by installing, for example, an appropriate security system. The Confederation of Unions for Academic Professionals (AKAVA), having observed similar symptoms, came to the conclusion, that there were a need for greater emphasis on the importance of the protection of mental health at work. The Committee, while noting with concern these observations made by the above-mentioned unions, points out that these issues do not fall within the scope of application of this Convention.

II. Article 5 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest the Government's information that the Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health has been transferred on 1 April 1997 from the Ministry of Labour to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health allowing closer consultations between the most central workers' and employers' organizations by creating an important forum for cooperation on major occupational safety and health issues related to the preparation of legislation, development, planning and monitoring. The Committee invites the Government to keep the Office informed on any action based on these restructuring measures.

Article 6. The Committee notes that the organization of inspection services has been changed and the competence to its supervision has been transferred in 1997 from the Ministry of Labour to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health aiming to improve the supervision of arrangement and content of occupational health care through cooperation between the competent authorities. The Committee also notes that the number of workplace inspections carried out decreased between the years 1993 and 1996. The Government is therefore requested to provide information to which extent the number of inspections will be increased on the basis of the reorganizational measures undertaken in 1997.

III. The Committee notes with interest the Government's indication that a new provision in section 9, paragraph 5 of the Occupational Safety Act (299/1958) has been inserted, according to which the employer must ensure that employees are informed at a sufficiently early stage about matters affecting occupational safety and health at the workplace and, that such issues are dealt with properly and at a sufficiently early stage by the employer and the employees or their representatives. The Committee would request the Government to continue to provide information related to the practical application of the Convention.