Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Hygiene (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1964 (No. 120) - Lebanon (Ratification: 1977)

1. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of Order No. 493/1 of 1997 to give effect to Articles 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the Convention. It also notes that its section II empowers the labour inspection to supervise the implementation of the provisions of this Order. The Committee would request the Government to provide, in its next report, information on the manner in which the above-mentioned Order is applied in practice, by supplying extracts from inspection reports, information on the number of workers covered by the legislation as well as information on the number and nature of contraventions reported.

2. The Committee notes that no Order relating to welfare of wage-earners has been promulgated in application of section 18 of Decree No. 6341 of 2 October 1951 and that this Decree leaves it up to the Minister of Labour to take the necessary measures to give effect to this Decree. In this respect, the Committee notes the Government's indication that a tripartite committee for occupational safety and health will be set up to examine, in accordance with section 18 of Decree No. 6341, the matters related to health and safety of workers inside the undertakings as well as the matters related to the welfare of wage-earners. The Committee would request the Government to keep the ILO informed on any action taken by the tripartite committee for occupational safety and health once it has been established.

3. The Committee notes the Government's indication that, while Decree No. 6341 of 2 October 1951 provides for an undertaking's physician in every undertaking employing more than 20 employees, these physicians are usually generalists, because of the low number of physicians in the country specialized in occupational medicine. It also notes the Government's suggestion to the ILO to organize training courses to train physicians in occupational medicine.

4. In its previous comment, the Committee had noted the Government's announcement to amend Decree No. 6341, for section 10 of Decree No. 6341 provides for the necessary measures to be taken to enable women to be seated, whereas Article 14 of the Convention provides for suitable seats available to all workers. The Committee takes note of the Government's indication, according to which the possibility of amending this Decree in general is currently under examination in the light of the Conventions ratified. The Committee expresses once again its hope that the Government will take the necessary measures in the near future to bring its legislation into conformity with the Convention. It would ask the Government to report on progress made in this respect.