Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Afghanistan (Ratification: 1939)

The Committee notes the Government’s brief report including reference to the provisions on occupational safety and health (OSH) in Chapter 10 of the Labour Code of February 2007. The Committee notes that sections 111–126 of the Labour Code regulate a number of issues including employers’ responsibilities related to establishing safe and healthy working conditions and setting standards to prevent accidents and diseases; workers’ training; the use of personal protective equipment; medical examinations of workers; the provision of first aid; the setting up of health-care units and the procedures for investigation and compensation in cases of accidents. The Labour Code also empowers the State Committee of Labour and Social Security and the Central Council of Trade Guilds to draw up regulations concerning OSH. The Committee welcomes the progress achieved, and notes that the required legislative base for developing more detailed regulations giving effect to the Convention is now in place. The Committee notes also that the Government requests further assistance and technical cooperation from the ILO in order to develop its OSH system. With reference to the foregoing as well as to the observations submitted by the All Afghanistan Federation of Trade Unions (AAFTU) referred to in its previous comments, the Committee expresses the hope that the Government will now proceed to take the necessary action, for example through regulation, to give effect to the specific requirements in the Convention, and to keep the Office informed of any progress in this respect.