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

Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 (No. 120) - Bulgaria (Ratification: 1965)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report and particularly on the inspections carried out between 2002 and 2004 by the Executive Agency General Labour Inspection.

Article 6(2) of the Convention. Establishment of a system of sufficiently dissuasive penalties. The Committee notes the reply by the Government to its previous direct request according to which it is taking into account the comments made by the Committee concerning the need to establish sufficiently dissuasive penalties for violations of the legislation respecting occupational safety and health. The Committee notes that the highest number of violations concern occupational safety and health standards (75 per cent of all violations reported). Despite the very high number of contraventions, the Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information on adequate penalties to ensure the proper application of the legislation. In this respect, the Committee recalls that measures can only be effective when the penalties involved are sufficiently dissuasive, for example, by imposing very heavy fines on those responsible for violations. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures for the establishment of a system of penalties which will have a preventive, dissuasive and effective impact against violations of the legislation giving effect to the Convention.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.