Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (Ratification: 1984)

The Committee notes with interest the Government's communication dated 12 June 1992 concerning the creation of the National Council and the National Institute on Prevention and Health and Safety at Work by Decree No. 2.208 of 23 April 1992; it however notes with regret that no report has been received from the Government in response to the other issues raised by the Committee in its previous comments. The Committee, therefore, trusts that the Government will supply a detailed report in the very near future on the following points:

1. Article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention. The Committee notes that the newly created National Council on Prevention and Health and Safety at Work is, by virtue of section 8 of the Basic Act of 1986 on prevention, working conditions and the working environment, authorized to draw up national policy with respect to working conditions and working environment as concerns the prevention of workers' health, safety and welfare and is responsible for overseeing the observance of all the standards contained in the Act and the regulations issued thereunder. It further notes the Government's indication in its letter of 12 June 1992 that progress is being made on the consolidated social security draft with a view towards ensuring the implementation of the provisions of the Basic Act. The Committee hopes that the Government will indicate the progress made in the revision of the consolidation of social security laws and the measures taken or envisaged in the draft to improve the application of the Basic Act.

2. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee hopes that the Government will indicate the manner in which the relationships between, on the one hand, the material elements of work and the persons who carry out or supervise the work and on the other, the adaptation of machinery, equipment, working time, organization of work and work processes to the physical and mental capacities of the workers (Article 5(b)) are taken into account in the national policy and the measures taken to provide for communication and cooperation at all levels (Article 5(d)). The Government is also requested to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that the functions elaborated in Article 11 of the Convention are carried out.

3. Article 8. In previous comments, the Committee noted that no new regulations had been issued to give effect to the national occupational safety and health policy called for under Article 4 of the Convention. It welcomes the creation of the National Council on Prevention and Health and Safety at Work which appears to have the authority for elaborating the regulations necessary to the implementation of the national occupational safety and health policy. The Government is requested to indicate any laws or regulations adopted or under consideration to give effect to the national occupational safety and health policy.

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

[The Government is requested to report in detail for the period ending 30 June 1993.]