Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Maximum Weight Convention, 1967 (No. 127) - Malta (Ratification: 1988)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 7 of the Convention. Women and young workers. The Committee notes the adoption of the Protection of Maternity at Work Places Regulations (LN 92 of 2000) and the Protection of Young Persons at Work Places Regulations (LN 91 of 2000, as amended by LN 283 of 2004). It notes that the First Schedule to LN 92 of 2000 provides a non-exhaustive list of physical work, such as handling loads, for which an assessment has to be carried out before pregnant workers, mothers or breastfeeding women can transport loads. However, the Committee notes that there is no specific mention of women workers who are not pregnant, breastfeeding or being a mother. With respect to young workers, it notes that section 4(1a) of LN 91 of 2000 provides that employers shall ensure that the work assigned is not beyond such young person’s physical or psychological capacity. The Committee notes in this respect the Government’s statement, as a response to its previous request that, beside the legislation adopted (as mentioned above), no specific guidelines has been issued with respect to limiting the assignment of women and young persons for the manual transportation of loads. Considering that neither LN 92 of 2000 (with respect to women), nor LN 91 of 2000 (with respect to young workers) provide a limit to what women and young workers can manually transport, the Committee requests the Government to provide additional information in its next report on measures taken or envisaged to ensure the full application of Article 7 of the Convention, particularly ensuring that all women workers are covered.

Part IV of the report form. Practical application of the Convention. The Committee notes the adoption of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority Act (Act No. XXVII of 2000) establishing the occupational health and safety authority and the safety appeals board. It notes that section 5 of the Act provides that the Occupational Health and Safety Authority shall ensure that occupational safety and health protection is maintained. The Committee requests the Government to provide additional information in its next report on the practical application of the Convention, including extracts from labour inspection reports.