Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161) - Guatemala (Ratification: 1989)

Referring to its observation, the Committee wishes to raise the following additional points.

Article 1 of the Convention. Services entrusted with essentially preventive functions and responsible for advising the employer, the workers and their representatives. Article 7. Organization of occupational health services. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Guatemalan Social Security Institute (IGSS), through its team of 60 inspectors, 23 safety and hygiene officers and 30 health officers, undertakes evaluations of working and environmental conditions in the various undertakings affiliated to the IGSS, either at the request of the undertaking or according to its own schedule. It also notes the other activities indicated in the Government’s report, such as investigation of occupational accidents, relocation of workers, approval of premises, and training. It is the Committee’s understanding that the only occupational health services in Guatemala are provided by the IGSS. Referring to the various forms of organization of occupational health services provided for in Article 7 of the Convention, the Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the only occupational health services in Guatemala are indeed provided by the IGSS and, if there are other forms in which these services are organized – for example, for major undertakings, maquiladoras (export processing) sector enterprises or individual branches of activity (such as mining, agriculture or construction) – to send detailed information in this respect.

Article 5(a)–(k). Functions as are adequate and appropriate to the occupational risks of the undertaking. The Committee notes the Government’s information concerning the functions discharged by the IGSS. However, it would appear from the Government’s description that, although the functions of the IGSS are extensive, in practice they focus on inspection and rehabilitation. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in what type of undertakings and in what manner the IGSS discharges the functions of risk identification and assessment (Article 5(a) of the Convention) and in what manner it participates in the analysis of occupational accidents and occupational diseases (Article 5(k)).