Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise and Vibration) Convention, 1977 (No. 148) - Egypt (Ratification: 1988)

1. Further to its observation, the Committee notes the Ministry of Health Decree No. 470/1971 on air pollution standards in industrial establishments and associated units, Act No. 453/1954 on industrial, commercial and other establishments, and Act No. 371/1956 on public establishments which the Government has supplied further to previous requests.

2. Article 5(4) of the Convention. Opportunity for representatives of the employers and workers of the undertaking to accompany labour inspectors. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that sections 234 and 235 of Labour Code No. 12/2003 provide that employers or their representatives are required to expedite the work of those who are responsible for implementing the provisions and decrees of the Code. The Committee recalls that this Article of the Convention provides that representatives of the employers and workers must have the right to accompany labour inspectors during their inspection, unless the inspectors consider, in the light of the general instructions of the competent authority, that this may be prejudicial to the performance of their duties. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to indicate whether the representatives of employers and workers have the right to accompany labour inspectors on their inspections and whether they can insist on this right if their request is refused by the inspectors.

3. Article 6(2). Duty of employers undertaking activities simultaneously at one workplace to collaborate. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the provisions of the Labour Code do not provide any requirement for employers undertaking activities at one workplace to collaborate in order to comply with safety measures ensuring better coordination on safety and health at work. The Committee recalls that, under this Article, employers undertaking activities simultaneously at one workplace have the duty to collaborate in order to ensure that the measures prescribed in the Convention are complied with. The Committee once again requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that whenever two or more employers undertake activities simultaneously at one workplace, they have the duty to collaborate with the prescribed measures.

4. Article 8(3). Procedures by which criteria and exposure limits are established and regularly revised. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the Government indicates that a committee on safety and health at work is established in each enterprise to examine working conditions, causes of accidents, occupational illness and prevention measures. The Committee recalls that Article 8(3) requires that criteria and exposure limits for air pollution, noise and vibrations at the workplace shall be established, supplemented and revised regularly in the light of current national and international knowledge and data, taking into account any increase in occupational hazards resulting from simultaneous exposure to several harmful factors at the workplace. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the exposure limits established by the competent authority for hazards of exposure to air pollution, noise and vibration and the measures taken to supplement and revise them regularly.

5. Article 9. Eradication of hazards due to air pollution, noise and vibration. The Committee notes that sections 204-207 of the Labour Code stipulate that, at the time of selecting the workplaces and enterprise for which permits are delivered, the requirements of environmental protection in accordance with provisions laid down to that end must be taken into account. It notes that a central commission shall be set up at the Ministry of Industry for the purpose of laying down the standards and requirements on the basis of which permits shall be issued to enterprises. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the conditions laid down or specifications adopted in regard to the technical measures applied to new plants or new processes when they are designed or installed with a view to eradicating, as far as possible, any risks due to air pollution, noise and vibration. It also requests the Government to provide information on the practical application of the Convention in practice and to give information on relevant labour inspection.