Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) - North Macedonia (Ratification: 1991)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its latest report, which indicates the relevant EU directives transposed into national legislation during the report period. The Committee notes that the Government has not indicated whether the national policy and the Council for Occupational Safety and Health, mentioned in the Government’s previous report, have been established. The Committee further notes that the Government has omitted to provide responses to comments made by the Committee regarding effect given to Article 11(a)–(f), Article 12(a)–(c), Article 14 and Article 19(d)–(e). The Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report whether a national policy has been adopted, and whether the Council for Occupational Safety and Health has been established, and any effect this has had on the application, in law and in practice, of Article 4, Article 6, Article 7 and Article 15. The Committee further reiterates its request that the Government provide information on measures taken, in law and in practice, to give effect to Article 11(a)–(f), Article 12(a)–(c), Article 14 and Article 19(d)–(e).

Article 5(a)–(e) of the Convention. Main spheres of action. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on various training sessions and seminars held on OSH during 2009, and the establishment of a professional examination for occupational safety which appears to give effect to Article 5(c) of the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on measures taken in law and in practice to give effect to the remaining requirements under Article 5.

Article 10. Guidance to employers and workers  The Committee notes the response provided in the Government’s report which indicates that many training sessions and seminars were held during 2009 on various laws and regulations relevant to OSH. The Committee asks the Government to indicate to whom these training sessions and seminars were addressed, and to provide further information on the measures taken to provide guidance to employers and workers so as to help them comply with legal obligations.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government indicating that of the 17,991 workplace inspections that took place in 2009, 16,008 irregularities or deficiencies were detected, and 11,269 deficiencies have since been removed, and that they primarily related to compulsory medical examinations, staff training, provision of first-aid equipment, etc. The Committee further notes that there were 494 occupational accidents and 12 deaths in 2009, and that a high number of these incidents occurred in the manufacturing and construction industries and were predominantly related to the lack of training of workers. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to address the high number of occupational accidents and deaths in the manufacturing and construction industries; to ensure the obligations under Article 19(d) on appropriate OSH training for workers and their representatives are applied in practice; and continue to provide information on the application of this Convention in practice, in particular with reference to occupational diseases.

Plan of Action (2010–16). The Committee would like to take this opportunity to inform the Government that, in March 2010, the Governing Body adopted a plan of action to achieve widespread ratification and effective implementation of the key instruments in the area of occupational safety and health, and the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), its 2002 Protocol and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) (GB.307/10/2(Rev.)). The Committee would like to bring to the Government’s attention that, under this Plan of Action, the Office is available to provide assistance to governments, as appropriate, to bring their national law and practice into conformity with these key OSH Conventions in order to promote their ratification and effective implementation. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any needs it may have in this respect.