Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Côte d'Ivoire (Ratification: 1973)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its direct request.

It also notes with interest the outcome of the work of the National Seminar on Occupational Risks related to Benzene and Prevention Strategies, held in Abidjan in 1998, and the respective report of the first "Legislative" Committee, which refers to the Convention and its Recommendation. It also notes with interest the Government's indication that, in the framework of the decrees issued under Act No. 95-15 issuing the Labour Code, the Decree of 1 March 1995 will be revised in order to bring it into conformity with the following Articles of the Convention: Article 6, paragraph 2 of the Convention (the concentration of benzene in the air of places of employment not to exceed a ceiling value of 25 parts per million (80 mg/m3, or 0.08 g per m3)); and Article 11, paragraph 2 (prohibition upon young persons under 18 years of age from being employed in work processes involving exposure to benzene or products containing benzene, except in the context of education or training).

The Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures in the near future to give full effect to the Convention. It requests the Government to provide information on any progress achieved in this respect.