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

Maximum Weight Convention, 1967 (No. 127) - Malta (Ratification: 1988)

New legislation. The Committee notes the reference made by the Government that new “local” legislation allegedly in conformity with relevant EU directives has been adopted. The Committee requests the Government to provide further details about this legislation and transmit a copy thereof to the Committee.

Article 3 of the Convention. Manual transport of a load likely to jeopardize the health and safety of the worker. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government that the referenced new legislation would require an employer who assigns work which involves manual handling to any worker to carry out a risk assessment, taking into account the nature of the activity and the worker’s medical fitness to carry out the assigned task. The Committee, recalling that Article 3 states that no worker shall be required or permitted to engage in the manual transport of a load which, by reason of its weight, is likely to jeopardize the health or safety of that worker, asks the Government to indicate measures taken or envisaged to specify the maximum weight limits that need to be considered by the employer when evaluating the risk to the health and safety of workers when engaging in the manual transport of a load.

Article 7. Assignment of women and young workers to manual transport of loads. With reference to its previous comments the Committee notes that the referenced new legislation in this area does not appear to lay down a maximum weight limit that can be transported by women and young workers. In this regard, the Committee recalls that Article 7 of the Convention requires the assignment of women and young workers to manual transport of loads other than light loads to be limited, and further requires the maximum weight of such loads to be substantially less than that permitted for male workers. The Committee requests the Government to indicate measures taken or envisaged in law and in practice to give effect to the provisions of Article 7.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes that the Government’s report is silent on this matter. The Committee therefore reiterates its request for the Government to provide additional information on the application of the Convention in practice, including extracts from labour inspections reports.