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

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) - Antigua and Barbuda (Ratification: 2002)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to its previous comments. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

The Committee welcomes the information in the Government’s report indicating that a national policy on occupational safety and health is currently being developed. The Committee notes the intention to repeal Division D of the Labour Code (No. 14 of 1975) (Cap. 27), concerning employment health, safety and welfare, which is to be replaced with new occupational safety and health legislation. The Committee hopes that this new legislation will take into account the provisions of the Convention and asks the Government to provide detailed information on the application of the Convention, in law and in practice, in its next report.

Application in practice. The Committee welcomes the statistical records – disaggregated by gender, industry and violation – provided in relation to visits by the labour inspection unit in 2009 and 2010. The Committee notes that there has been a decrease in the number of visits in 2010 and that the highest number of violations relate to safety protection and first aid. The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on the apparent decrease in the number of labour inspection visits carried out and to continue to provide information on the practical application of the Convention in the country.