Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) - Republic of Moldova (Ratification: 2000)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the provisions in the Law on Occupational Safety and Health of 2008 giving effect to Article 5(e) of the Convention, as well as the information provided, in reply to the Committee’s previous request on Article 12(c), on Government Decision No. 130 approving the Technical Regulations on Industrial Machinery. The Committee regards the Government to continue to provide information on legislative changes and measures undertaken with regard to the Convention.

Article 4 of the Convention. Periodic review of the national policy and situation regarding occupational safety and health. With reference to its previous comment under the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), the Committee notes that section 4 of the Occupational Safety and Health Law of 2008 states that the state policy on occupational safety and health is developed and reviewed in consultation with organizations of employers and trade unions, taking account of the international norms in this field and technical progress, and section 5 of the Law outlines areas of action for this policy. In its report submitted under Convention No. 187, the Government indicates, with respect to national policy, that it is in the process of transposing EU Directives related to occupational safety and health, and that this transposition includes the participation of the social partners. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the formulation and implementation of a coherent national policy on occupational safety and health, and to provide information on measures taken to periodically review this policy, in consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers.

Application in practice. 1. General application. The Committee notes with concern the statement in the information note on occupational safety in the workplace, submitted with the Government’s report, that the number of fatal work accidents increased from 2012 to 2013. According to the annual reports of the state labour inspectorate, the number of fatalities due to work accidents rose from 32 in 2012 to 40 in 2013 to 42 in 2014. The Committee also notes that the information note identifies several measures that should be taken in order to continuously improve occupational safety and health in the country, including: the development of institutional capacities of the bodies with responsibilities in occupational safety and health; the focusing of inspection activities on high risk sectors; the promotion of occupational safety and health through the media; and the development of external services that provide assistance on safety and health at work. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures taken to improve the application of the Convention in practice, as well as the impact achieved, including statistical information on the number and nature of the contraventions reported and the number, nature and cause of occupational accidents. It also requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken pursuant to the steps identified, in the information note on occupational safety in the workplace, for the continuous improvement of occupational safety and health in the country.

2. Application of the Convention in the manufacturing sector. The Committee notes from the information note on occupational safety in the workplace that, between 2009 and 2014, the sector in which the most workers were injured was the manufacturing sector. The note indicates that in 2013, the state labour inspectorate undertook a campaign in the manufacturing sector to monitor health and safety, and information was published in newspapers related to the assessment of occupational risks in the manufacturing industry. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to address the number of occupational accidents in the manufacturing sector, as well as the impact of those measures.