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The Committee notes that a new Labour Code has been adopted in 2007 according to which foreign workers, their families or dependants, who have been victims of occupational accidents, are granted the same treatment in respect of compensation as the nationals of Cape Verde (section 18(1)). The Committee notes the Government’s statement that, despite the introduction of the new Labour Code, the provisions of Legislative Decree No. 84/78 establishing compulsory insurance for industrial accidents, is still applicable. The Committee notes that section 3(1) of the Legislative Decree is contrary to the Labour Code because it establishes that foreign workers who exercise professional activities in Cape Verde are treated as national workers on the basis of reciprocal agreements. Furthermore, section 3(3) is also contrary to the provisions of the Labour Code because it excludes foreign workers from the scope of the Decree when they are temporarily employed in Cape Verde by a foreign enterprise.
The Committee notes the Government’s statement that, in practice, foreign workers, including those temporarily employed in Cape Verde, can benefit from the compulsory insurance for occupational accidents. The Government indicates that a complete revision of the issue of industrial accidents has been initiated and that the final text shall be submitted to the Committee as soon as it is adopted. The Committee hopes that, in revising its legislation on industrial accidents, the Government amends sections 3(1) and (3) of Legislative Decree No. 84/78 in conformity with section 18(1) of the Labour Code in order to ensure a better application of Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention.
Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee notes that the Government still does not have any statistical data concerning occupational accidents. It trusts that the Government will be in a position to transmit such information with its next report indicating, as far as possible, the number and nationality of foreign workers employed in the country, the number of those involved in occupational accidents, in particular in the construction sector where, according to the Cape Verde Confederation of Free Trade Unions (CCSL), many occupational accidents occur.
Article 1 of the Convention. Equality of treatment. With reference to its previous comments on the Workmen’s Compensation (Accidents) Convention, 1925 (No. 17) and Convention No. 19, the Committee notes with satisfaction that a new Labour Code has been adopted in 2007 according to which foreign workers, their families or dependants, who have been victims of occupational accidents, are granted the same treatment in respect of compensation as the nationals of Cape Verde (section 18(1)).
The Committee is raising other points in a request directly addressed to the Government.
The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:
Article 2 of the Convention. Foreign workers temporarily or intermittently employed. The Committee takes this opportunity to recall that, under the terms of this provision of the Convention, when foreign workers are victims of occupational accidents while employed temporarily or intermittently on the territory of Cape Verde on behalf of an undertaking situated abroad, it is not authorized to exclude these workers from the scope of application of Cape Verdean law except in the case of the prior conclusion between the States concerned of special agreements providing for the application of the legislation of the State of origin.
Part V of the report form. The Committee notes that the Government still does not have any statistical data concerning occupational accidents. It trusts that the Government will be in a position to transmit such information with its next report indicating, as far as possible, the number and nationality of foreign workers employed in the country, the number of those involved in occupational accidents, in particular in the construction sector where, according to the Cape Verde Confederation of Free Trade Unions (CCSL), many occupational accidents occur.
The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It also notes the adoption in 2007 of the new Labour Code and hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:
Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee takes this opportunity to recall that, under the terms of this provision of the Convention, when foreign workers are victims of occupational accidents while employed temporarily or intermittently on the territory of Cape Verde on behalf of an undertaking situated abroad, it is not authorized to exclude these workers from the scope of application of Cape Verdean law except in the case of the prior conclusion between the States concerned of special agreements providing for the application of the legislation of the State of origin.
The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:
The Committee notes the report transmitted by the Government, as well as the comments made by the Commercial, Industrial and Agricultural Association of Barlavento (ACIAB), the National Union of Workers of Cape Verde – Trade Union (UNTC–CS) and the Cape Verde Confederation of Free Trade Unions (CCSL) concerning the application of the Convention.
Article 2 of the Convention. In its report, the Government states that it will take account of the comments previously made by the Committee when amending section 3(1) of Legislative Decree No. 84/78 of 22 September 1978 in order to remove any reference to the blanket exclusion from its scope of foreign workers who are employed temporarily in the national territory by a foreign enterprise. The Committee notes this information with interest and notes that this amendment will be made within the framework of the adoption of a new Labour Code, the draft version of which was prepared in collaboration with the Office. It notes, furthermore, that in their comments the three organizations above expressed support for such a revision in order to bring the national legislation into conformity with Convention No. 19. In these circumstances, the Committee hopes that the necessary amendments will soon be adopted and that the Government will be in a position to transmit them with its next report. The Committee takes this opportunity to recall that, under the terms of this provision of the Convention, when foreign workers are victims of occupational accidents while employed temporarily or intermittently on the territory of Cape Verde on behalf of an undertaking situated abroad, it is not authorized to exclude these workers from the scope of application of Cape Verdean law except in the case of the prior conclusion between the States concerned of special agreements providing for the application of the legislation of the State of origin.
Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it still does not have any statistical data concerning occupational accidents. It trusts that the Government will be in a position to transmit such information with its next report indicating, as far as possible, the number and nationality of foreign workers employed in the country, the number of those involved in occupational accidents, in particular in the construction sector where, according to the CCSL, many occupational accidents occur.
The Committee notes the report transmitted by the Government, as well as the comments made by the Commercial, Industrial and Agricultural Association of Barlavento (ACIAB), the National Union of Workers of Cape Verde – Trade Union (UNTC-CS) and the Cape Verde Confederation of Free Trade Unions (CCSL) concerning the application of the Convention.
The Committee notes that according to information supplied by the Government there have been no amendments to legislation concerning this Convention. The situation described by the Government in its previous report remains unchanged. The Committee hopes that in its next report the Government will be able to indicate the adoption of measures aimed at ensuring improved application of the Convention. In this regard, it recalls the following points raised in its previous direct request.
1. Article 2 of the Convention. In previous comments the Committee pointed out that section 3(3) of Legislative Decree No. 84/78 to establish compulsory insurance for industrial accidents, which excludes from its scope foreign workers who are employed temporarily in Cape Verde by a foreign enterprise, does not fully comply with the requirements of the Convention. Article 2 does allow the conclusion of special agreements between Members concerned to provide that compensation for industrial accidents happening to workers whilst temporarily or intermittently employed in the territory of one Member on behalf of an undertaking situated in the territory of another Member shall be governed by the laws and regulations of the latter Member; however, a blanket exclusion is contrary to the provisions of the Convention.
In reply, the Government explains that under section 11(4) of the Constitution of the Republic of Cape Verde the provisions of international agreements take precedence over domestic law. The Government therefore considers that it can conclude special agreements of the type provided under Article 2 of the Convention without repealing section 3 of Legislative Decree 84/78. The Committee notes this information. It points out that its comments applied to the need to amend section 3(3) of the Decree in order to delete any reference to a blanket exclusion of foreign workers who are employed temporarily in Cape Verde by a foreign enterprise in the scope of the Decree and hence the compulsory insurance protection against occupational accidents. The Committee therefore suggests that the Government should supplement section 3(3) of the Decree by a provision stipulating that exclusion of these workers from the scope of the Decree is allowed only subject to the prior conclusion of special agreements between Cape Verde and the Members concerned. The Committee also refers to its comments under Articles 3 and 4 of the Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 (No. 118).
2. The Committee also notes the Government’s statement that statistical information is not yet available. It requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in this respect.
The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to previous comments. It hopes that the next report will include full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:
The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request which read as follows:
[The Government is asked to report in detail in 2002.]
1. Article 2 of the Convention. In previous comments the Committee had pointed out that section 3(3) of Legislative Decree No. 84/78 to establish compulsory insurance for industrial accidents, which excludes from its scope foreign workers who are employed temporarily in Cape Verde by a foreign enterprise, does not fully comply with the requirements of the Convention. Article 2 does allow the conclusion of special agreements between Members concerned to provide that compensation for industrial accidents happening to workers whilst temporarily or intermittently employed in the territory of one Member on behalf of an undertaking situated in the territory of another Member shall be governed by the laws and regulations of the latter Member; however, a blanket exclusion is contrary to the provisions of the Convention.
In reply, the Government explains that under section 11(a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Cape Verde the provisions of international agreements take precedence over domestic law, and therefore section 3(3) of Legislative Decree 84/78 is implicitly revoked. The Committee notes this information. It points out, however, that those workers who are not covered by an agreement concluded under Article 2 would remain under Article 1 of the Convention and that section 3(3) would be inconsistent with Article 1 and it is only in such cases that section 3(3) would stand implicitly repeated and not in other cases. The Committee therefore trusts that the Government will take the necessary steps in the near future to comply fully with the Convention on this point both in law and in practice. The Committee also refers to its comments under Articles 3 and 4 of the Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 (No. 118).
2. The Committee also notes the Government's statement that statistical information is not yet available. It would appreciate being kept informed of any progress made in this respect.
Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest the Government's statement that its previous comments on section 3(3) of Legislative Decree No. 84/78 to establish compulsory insurance for industrial accidents will duly be taken into account in a future revision of the relevant legislation. The Committee therefore hopes that measures will be taken shortly to bring this provision of the legislation into full conformity with Article 2 of the Convention which provides that the exclusion of workers temporarily or intermittantly employed in the territory of one Member on behalf of an undertaking situated in the territory of another Member shall be subject to the conclusion of an agreement between the Members concerned guaranteeing to the workers, who are excluded from the scope of the first Member's legislation, that the legislation of the second Member shall remain applicable to them during the period of their temporary employment in the territory of the first Member. The Committee would be grateful if in its next report the Government would provide information on progress made in this respect.
Point V of the report form. In reply to the request for information on the practical effect given to the Convention, the Government indicates that the particulars requested are not yet available. The Committee hopes that the Government will be able to provide this information, including statistics, with its next report.
The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:
1. Article 2 of the Convention. Under the terms of section 3(3) of Legislative Decree No. 84/78, foreign workers who are temporarily in Cape Verde in the service of a foreign enterprise or international organisation and who, as such, are entitled to compensation for industrial accidents, are excluded from the scope of the Decree. This provision is not entirely in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention, which provides that the exclusion of workers temporarily or intermittently employed in the territory of one Member on behalf of an undertaking situated in the territory of another Member shall be subject to the conclusion of an agreement between the Members concerned to guarantee to the workers, who are excluded from the scope of the first Member's legislation, that the legislation of the second Member remains applicable during the period of their temporary employment. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures that it is proposing to take to bring its legislation into full conformity with the Convention on this point.
2. Please also supply information on the application of the Convention in practice, and in particular statistics, as requested under point V of the report form adopted by the Governing Body of the ILO on this Convention.
The Committee notes the Government's first report and wishes to draw attention to the following points.