Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162) - Morocco (Ratification: 2011)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

Articles 3 and 15 of the Convention. Legislation. Exposure limits. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of Decree No. 2-12-431 of 25 November 2013 establishing conditions for the use of substances or preparations that constitute a potential hazard to workers’ health or safety, and also notes the Government’s indication that labour inspectors are responsible for enforcing the limit values for occupational exposure.

Article 4. Consultations with the representative organizations of employers and workers. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, a tripartite committee set up under the Tripartite Consultation (International Labour Standards) Convention, 1976 (No. 144), will examine the application of the provisions of the present Convention at its meetings. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the work of the tripartite committee, particularly as regards the most representative organizations of employers and workers consulted and the outcome of the consultations.

Article 6(2) and (3). Cooperation whenever two or more employers undertake activities simultaneously at one workplace and preparation of procedures for dealing with emergency situations. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Labour Code does not specifically establish a requirement for employers to cooperate but that such cooperation may occur in the context of an inter-enterprise medical service. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to give full effect to this Article of the Convention, particularly as regards establishing the requirement for two or more employers to cooperate whenever they undertake activities simultaneously at one workplace.

Article 8. Cooperation between employers and workers or their representatives. The Committee notes that section 336 of the Labour Code establishes the obligation for industrial, commercial and craft enterprises employing at least 50 workers to establish safety and health committees. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether there is a similar obligation for enterprises employing fewer than 50 workers and, if not, to supply information on any measures taken or contemplated to ensure cooperation between employers and workers or their representatives in such enterprises.

Article 14. Responsibility of producers and suppliers of asbestos, and manufacturers and suppliers of products containing asbestos. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that a draft decree concerning the general labelling of industrial products has been drawn up and is in the process of being adopted. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the decree once it has been adopted and to clarify who has responsibility for labelling.

Article 13. Notification by employers to the competent authority of types of work involving exposure to asbestos. Article 17. Demolition work. Article 20(4). Right of workers or their representatives to request the monitoring of the working environment. Article 21(3). Informing workers in an appropriate manner of the results of their medical examinations. Article 22(2). Policy and procedures on education and training measures. The Committee notes that, according to the report, decrees giving effect to these provisions of the Convention, particularly concerning the protection of workers against hazards arising from exposure to asbestos, will be drawn up shortly by the government authority responsible for employment and submitted for the adoption process. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the progress made in the preparation and adoption of the decrees and to send copies of the latter once they have been adopted.

Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the six cases of occupational disease due to asbestos which were notified in the Casablanca region in 2012 concern the construction products manufacturing sector. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice, with an indication of the number of cases of occupational disease notified annually, disaggregated by region and sector of activity.