Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

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

1. The Committee takes note of the information provided in reply to its previous comments by the Government in the latest report.

2. The Committee notes that SanPIN 5781-91 "Sanitation rules for food stuff trading enterprises" and SanPIN 42-123-5777-91 "Sanitation rules for public catering enterprises", attached to this report, contain provisions giving effect to Article 12 of the Convention. The Committee also notes that General Rules No. 70 of 03 June 2003 on labour protection, State Standards No. 142 of 28 July 2003 on administrative and domestic premises, rules No. 67 of 28 May 1999 on providing workers with personal protective equipment, adopted by the Ministry of Labour, as well as Standards No. 142 of 07 April 1998 on Natural and Artificial Lighting, adopted by the Ministry of Architecture and Construction, contain provisions which give effect to Articles 9, 11 and 15.

3. Articles 8, 10, 13, 14 and 18. Provision of all premises used by workers with suitable ventilation, comfortable and steady temperature, washing facilities and sanitary conveniences and measures reducing harmful effects of noise and vibration. The Government refers to the process of adaptation of existing standards and rules to the modern conditions. The Committee hopes that new versions of such standards and rules will give effect to these provisions of the Convention. It requests the Government to keep it informed on development of the mentioned adaptation process and to supply a copy of texts after their adoption.

4. Article 7. Keeping clean all premises used by workers. The Committee notes that SanPIN 5781-91 "Sanitation rules for food stuff trading enterprises" and SanPIN 42-123-5777-91 "Sanitation rules for public catering enterprises" contain the provisions giving due effect to this article with respect to undertakings of food and catering industry. The Government is requested to indicate provisions of legislation or administrative regulations, or other measures under which the Article is applied to undertakings of other types of commerce and offices.

5. Article 17. Measures to protect workers against obnoxious, unhealthy or toxic substances, processes and techniques, and to provide workers, where the nature of work so requires, with personal protective equipment. The Committee notes the Government’s references to General Rules No. 70 of 03 June 2003 on labour protection, Rules No. 26 of 27 April 2000 on provision of workers with washing and disinfecting means and to Typical Branch Standards No. 26 of 10 June 2003 on free provision of commerce and public catering enterprises workers with personal protective means as to regulations giving due effect to this Article. In the absence of the texts of the above regulations and standards, the Committee was not in a position to determine the extent to which these standards and regulations give effect to Article 17 of the Convention. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide with its next report copies of the standards and regulations in question.