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

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Malta (Ratification: 1990)

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 6, paragraph 3, of the Convention. Directions issued on measurement of the concentration of benzene in the air in places of employment. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that no specific directives have been issued on the obligation to carry out measurement of the concentration of benzene in the air of places of employment. The Committee requests the Government to provide additional information in its next report on measures taken or envisaged to issue directions on measuring the concentration of benzene in the air of places of employment, in accordance with the Convention.

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 information in its next report on the practical application of the Convention, including extracts from labour inspection reports, the number of establishments in the country where workers are exposed to benzene or products containing benzene, the number of such workers, disaggregated by gender if possible.