Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

Maximum Weight Convention, 1967 (No. 127) - Lebanon (Ratification: 1977)

Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest section 39 of the draft amendments to Ordinance No. 6341 of 24 October 1951 concerning the organization of occupational safety in undertakings, providing that no worker is "allowed or permitted to manually transport a load which, by reason of its weight, is likely to jeopardize his/her health whilst taking due account of all conditions in which the work will be carried out". As regards the conditions to be taken into account in the application of the principle set forth in this section, the Committee notes the proposed section 40 providing for the Ministry of Labour's obligation to set out adequate measures, including methods of work, for the regulation of workers' health protection. The Committee accordingly hopes that the draft amendments will be adopted in the near future and requests the Government to supply a copy as soon as it has come into effect. It further would ask the Government to specify in more detail the protective measures and methods of work envisaged under section 40 of the abovementioned draft amendment to Ordinance No. 6341 of 1951.

Article 5. The Committee notes the Government's indication to the effect that the permanent Committee on Trade Union Training and Workers' Education is not yet established. However, a training session in collaboration with the Regional Office of the International Labour Organization was held in July 1999 in Beirut which was attended by labour inspectors concerned. These inspectors will be responsible for providing the necessary training regarding workers' health protection and the prevention of accidents as well as giving instructions to workers on the use of technical methods on lifting loads before they are assigned to manual transport. The Committee further notes that these training sessions will be followed up by other similar training sessions. The Committee also notes that a new section was inserted in the draft amendment to Ordinance No. 6341 of 1951 which applies in substance Article 5 of the Convention. The Committee reiterates its hope that the abovementioned draft amendments will be adopted soon and requests the Government to supply a copy as soon as it became effective. It also hopes that the Committee on Trade Union Training and Workers' Education will be installed soon. It requests the Government to continue to supply information on any training activities carried out in this field.

Article 6. The Committee takes due note of the Government's indication that the majority of undertakings use modern machinery for lifting loads in view of the evolution of their industrial requirements. It hopes that measures have been undertaken or envisaged in order to guarantee that modern means for lifting loads are provided to all undertakings to which the provisions of the Convention apply, in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 2, and requests the Government to indicate the progress achieved in this respect.

Article 7. The Committee notes with interest the last paragraph of section 39 of the draft amendment to Ordinance No. 6341 of 1951, according to which women and young workers will be limited to manually transport loads, and that the maximum weight of such loads should be substantially less than the loads permitted for adult male workers. It further notes that its Annex 3 contains two tables specifying the maximum weight of loads which are permitted to be lifted, pulled and transported by young workers of both sexes and women. The Committee requests the Government to supply a copy of Annex 3 for further examination as soon as it becomes effective.

Article 8. The Committee notes the Government's indication to the effect that the draft amendment to the abovementioned Ordinance has been submitted for consultation to the Office of the International Labour Organization in Beirut. The Committee recalls the provisions of Article 8 of the Convention and requests the Government to indicate the manner in which the most representative organizations of employers and workers concerned have been consulted in the elaboration of the new provisions.