Belgium ratifies the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167), and the Part-Time Work Convention, 1994 (No. 175)

News | 08 June 2016
On 8 June 2016, the Government of Belgium has deposited its instruments of ratification for the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167), and the Part-Time Work Convention, 1994 (No. 175).

On depositing its instruments of ratification, Mr Kris Peeters, Minister of Employment of Belgium, said: “To date, Belgium has ratified 108 of the 189 Conventions, which puts us in sixth place out of all the member States. Today, I have the honour to submit two new instruments of ratification to you, for Conventions Nos 175 and 167. Convention No. 175 provides part-time workers with the rights of full-time workers or proportional rights. With more than one million part-time workers, 27 per cent of the Belgian workforce has a part-time job. Obviously these workers deserve the same protection as full-time workers. Convention No. 167 covers the safety and health of workers and also applies to self-employed persons in the construction sector. Work on the transposition of the Convention was part of the National Occupational Safety Strategy for 2008–2012 and has enabled us to ratify this Convention. Of course, we will continue working on the ratification of other Conventions.”

Upon receiving the instruments of ratification, Mr Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Office, said: “I am very happy to count Belgium among the States parties to these two Conventions dealing with particularly important subjects: safety and health in construction and part-time work. Belgium is now the 30th country to have ratified the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167). Construction is one of the three most dangerous employment sectors, the others being mining and agriculture. Convention No. 167 aims to prevent injuries, diseases and deaths as a result of work in construction by applying the principles of the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), which Belgium has already ratified, to the specific risks and dangers of this sector. Belgium is also the 16th country to have ratified Convention No. 175 which, by recognizing the importance of part-time work to the economy, aims to protect the workers concerned, namely with regard to the right to organize and to bargain collectively, discrimination at work, working conditions and social security. With these two new ratifications the Government of Belgium reaffirms its remarkable commitment to international labour standards.”

To date, Belgium has ratified 108 international labour Conventions and one Protocol. (More information on NORMLEX).