Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162) - Croatia (Ratification: 1991)

The Committee notes the observations submitted by the Croatian Association of Unions (HUS) submitted on 18 September 2009 and transmitted to the Government on 2 October 2009 for comments. The Committee notes that the HUS alleges that there has been no change in solving the workers status, that the workers have still not been compensated and that they still have major problems in defining their working status as the ex-owner still controls the bankruptcy process. The Committee also notes the information submitted by the HUS that around ten workers decided to start a hunger strike in September 2009 in order to call attention to an urgent solution to their problems. The Committee refers to its previous observation, in which it requested the Government to report in detail in 2010 and the Committee requested the Government, to take, inter alia, action as follows:

… [The Committee] urges the Government to adopt all relevant implementing legislation, take all relevant measures to ensure that the legislative measures taken are effectively implemented and to pursue its efforts to raise awareness among all workers occupationally exposed to asbestos regarding the possibilities to seek redress and to facilitate the procedures for those who wish to do so by filing claims for compensation. …

… [The Committee] urges the Government to take all measures necessary to minimize the delays incurred for those entitled to compensation and to old age pension, to ensure that all claims and requests are handled as expeditiously as possible. …

In the light of the foregoing, and in the context of the detailed report requested for 2010 on the follow-up to its 2008 comment, the Committee requests the Government to respond in detail to the abovementioned observations submitted by the HUS and yet again urges the Government to take all necessary action to ensure a complete and timely follow-up to the conclusions of the High-level Direct Contacts Mission in 2007, to the Committee’s 2008 comments and to ensure full application of the Convention in the country.