Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 (No. 149) - Belgium (Ratification: 1988)

The Committee takes note of the information supplied in the Government’s report and the attached documentation. It notes in particular the legislative changes intervened during the reporting period, including the adoption of the Royal Order of 2 July 1999 amending the Royal Order of 18 January 1994 on the list of professional titles and specific occupational qualifications of nursing personnel, the Act of 10 August 2001 on measures related to health care, and the Act of 29 January 2003 on the establishment of a federal database of health-care professionals.

Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest the information concerning the action plan for the health sector which was jointly proposed by the Ministries of Social Affairs, Public Health and Employment and which was presented to the social partners in March 2000. The Committee notes in particular the declared intention to render the health sector attractive once again in order to face the scarcity of qualified personnel, the consideration of specific end-of-career measures in order to slow down the departure rate of health-care workers and the need to restore and reinforce the social dialogue through the reorganization of the joint committees operating in the field of health care. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of any further developments, particularly as regards the implementation of the action plan and the practical results obtained. The Committee would appreciate receiving concrete information concerning the evolution of wage levels in the nursing profession, as compared to the evolution of the average wage, the programmes for continuing nursing education and training, and all other measures designed to improve the working conditions of nursing personnel, for instance in terms of a more humane work organization, better adapted working hours, or upgraded welfare and child- care facilities.

Part V of the report form. The Committee requests the Government to supply up-to-date information on the application of the Convention in practice, including for instance recent statistics on the nurse-to-population ratio, the number of students attending nursing schools and the number of nurses leaving or joining the profession, copies of official publications and studies (e.g. reports of the National Nursing Council (CNAI) or the National Council of Hospital Establishments (CNEH)) addressing labour and employment issues concerning nursing services and nursing personnel, as well as any practical difficulties encountered in the implementation of the Convention.