Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) - Uruguay (Ratification: 1988)

Article 4 of the Convention. Formulation, implementation and review of a coherent national policy. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest the intense activity on the part of the sectoral tripartite committees dealing with occupational safety and health (OSH). The Government provides information on the following committees: (1) Tripartite Committee on the Construction Industry, which was established 23 years ago and has drawn up two decrees concerning hazard prevention in the sector (Decree No. 111/990 and Decree No. 89/995) and is currently engaged in the revision of the standard of 1995; (2) Tripartite Committee on the Chemicals Industry, which has drafted Decree No. 307/009 and is currently working on a new decree amending two articles of Decree No. 307; (3) Tripartite Committee on the Dairy Industry, which has conducted dissemination activities regarding standards and training in the context of Decree No. 291/2007; (4) Tripartite Committee on Telephone Call Centres, which has been doing intensive work for three years to create a consensus on a decree for hazard prevention in this major sector of activity and is close to finalizing this task; (5) Tripartite Committee on the Clothing Industry, which has been working in the context of Decree No. 291/007 and is planning a survey of enterprises to gather input with a view to setting the direction for future specific actions; (6) Tripartite Committee on Rural Matters, which drafted Decree No. 321/009 by consensus and is undertaking dissemination activities; (7) Tripartite Committee on Health, which was established in 2011 and is working to install an observatory relating to the conditions of work of health personnel; (8) Tripartite Committee on the Metallurgical Industry, which has been preparing dissemination materials concerning prevention measures but is facing difficulties in its operation; (9) Tripartite Committee on Liquid Petroleum Gas Companies, which has been conducting a joint analysis of conditions of work and has signed memoranda of understanding for reducing the daily hours of work to six hours 40 minutes. Finally, the Government states that the National Council on Occupational Safety and Health is responsible for defining national policy in this sphere and has just taken a decision to adopt the latest list of occupational diseases promoted by the ILO and has on its agenda the regulation of the Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161) and statistical information on occupational accidents. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information on the establishment of any new committees or activities or the adoption of any new legislation.

Follow-up to the recommendations of the tripartite committee (representation made under article 24 of the Constitution of the ILO (document GB.270/15/6). In its previous comments the Committee requested information on the action taken on the recommendations contained in paragraph 41 of the report adopted by the Governing Body in 2005. The Committee notes with satisfaction the comprehensive information supplied by the Government on the action taken on each recommendation made by the Governing Body in the abovementioned report, which demonstrates that it has complied with these recommendations. The Government provides information on the legislation relating to OSH adopted between 2005 and 2009 and the legislation which is being drafted; on the substantial increase, in 2007 and 2008, in the operational capacity of the labour inspectorate and the measures taken by the inspectorate in relation to OSH; on the vitality of tripartite dialogue; on the joint work with the organization responsible for statistics at national level, which will enable better results to be achieved within several months, and also the training and technical assistance granted to workers and enterprises. Furthermore, the Government attaches the 2010 annual report of the Labour and Social Security Inspectorate General, which contains valuable information on the activities of the inspectorate relating to OSH. Consequently, the Committee declares the follow-up to the recommendations contained in report GB.270/15/6 to be closed.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.