Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162) - Uganda (Ratification: 1990)

Article 3, paragraph 1, of the Convention. National laws or regulations on asbestos. The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government concerning the adoption of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, No. 9/2006 and its subsidiary legislation. It also notes, however, the information that while this new legislation prescribes that the employer has a duty to monitor and control the release of dangerous substances into the environment; to handle hazardous materials as well as to use toxic materials as a last resort it does not have any specific provisions concerning asbestos. In this regard and further to its previous comments, the Committee recalls that Article 3, paragraph 1, of the Convention calls for the adoption of specific legislation prescribing measures to be taken for the prevention and control of, and protection against, health hazards due to occupational exposure to asbestos. The Committee notes that the Government indicates that plans are under way to develop the required legislation, but that the Government would require technical support from the ILO in this respect. Due to the time that has elapsed since the ratification of the Convention, the Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures, in consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers concerned, to proceed to the preparation and adoption of laws or regulations ensuring effective application of the Convention. The ILO is available to comment on any draft legislation submitted to it. The Committee hopes that the next report of the Government will indicate the progress accomplished in this respect.

Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee notes that the Government has yet to submit information on the practical application of this Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide any available and relevant information on the practical application of this Convention, for example, in the form of statistics from the labour inspectorate.