Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 (No. 19) - Guinea-Bissau (Ratification: 1977)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation, which read as follows:

Article 1(1) of the Convention. Equality of treatment. In its previous comments, the Committee drew the Government’s attention to section 3(1) of Decree No. 4/80 of 1981, concerning compulsory insurance against industrial accidents and occupational diseases. It pointed out that the abovementioned provision is inconsistent with the Convention in that it lays down reciprocity as a requirement for equal treatment between foreign workers employed in Guinea-Bissau and Guinean workers. In response, the Government states that the matter is still receiving its attention but that, as yet, no text has been adopted regarding the reciprocity required by section 3(1) of the abovementioned Decree. The Committee recalls in this connection that the Convention lays down a system of automatic reciprocity between member States which have ratified it. In these circumstances, it hopes that the Government will very shortly take all necessary steps to bring the abovementioned provision of its legislation into line with Article 1(1), of the Convention by ensuring that all nationals of States which have ratified this Convention are automatically afforded the same treatment as nationals of Guinea-Bissau with regard to accident compensation.

Article 1(2). Transfer of benefits abroad. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on any compensation paid for injured persons or their dependants residing outside the country.

Article 2. Temporary or intermittent work. In its previous comments the Committee noted that section 3(3) of Decree No. 4/80 which excludes from the scope of the Decree foreign workers temporarily employed in Guinea-Bissau by foreign undertakings or international bodies is not fully consistent with this provision of the Convention. Article 2 of the Convention allows the exclusion of workers employed temporarily or intermittently in the territory of one Member on behalf of an undertaking located in the territory of another Member only under a special agreement concluded between the Members concerned. The Government indicated that, in practice, such workers have labour contracts under which they are protected by the legislation of their country of origin or the country of the undertaking or international body. The Government further stated that a bill had been drafted to regulate the conditions of foreign workers employed temporarily in Guinea-Bissau on behalf of a foreign undertaking. The Committee notes that the Government’s last report provides no information on the bill – to which the Government has been referring since 1987. It asks the Government to keep it informed of progress made in ensuring better application of this provision of the Convention.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.