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

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Cuba (Ratification: 1954)

Articles 3(2), 13, 14, 20, 21(f) and (g) of the Convention. Occupational safety and health prevention in high-risk activities, and the annual inspection report. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that in order to address the issue of negligence by workers which, according to the Government, is the main cause of occupational accidents, the National Labour Inspection Office (ONIT), in conjunction with the Occupational Safety Directorate of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the trade unions, had implemented measures to raise the awareness of workers and train them in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH). Further technical assistance had been received from the ILO for various occupational risks. The Committee requested that the Government provide information on these measures and the results achieved, and also on the technical assistance provided by the ILO with regard to occupational risks. The Government indicates in its report that an information campaign on occupational risks is carried out every year (focusing on training, promotional activities, participation and communication and a preventive culture). Moreover, an awareness-raising campaign is conducted annually, concentrated around the National Occupational Safety and Health Day, with the active participation of the central state administrative bodies, enterprises, trade unions and entities, in order to increase the level of information and awareness of prevention, accountability and requirements relating to occupational risks. National Occupational Safety and Health Day also involves a variety of activities, such as workshops, presentations by workers, technicians and specialists on good practice, and national and local publications. The Committee notes with interest that these measures, together with ILO technical assistance by the provision of courses on risks in the agricultural, construction and electrical safety sectors, in which several entities have participated, have contributed to the reduction of injuries resulting from employment accidents in all sectors from 4,214 in 2013 to 3,802 in 2014, and of fatal accidents from 86 in 2013 to 70 in 2014. The Committee also observes that, in accordance with the information contained in the 2013 and 2014 inspection reports, cases of occupational disease (in all sectors) have fallen significantly from 147 to 76 between 2011 and 2014. The Committee observes, however, that according to the data in these reports, the main violations reported concern the provision of insufficient training on OSH, failure to remain up to date in the field of preventing occupational risks, and the lack of personal protective equipment. The Committee requests the Government to supply statistical information on the preventive activities carried out by the labour inspectorate through the provision of technical information and advice to employers and workers in workplaces in sectors in which this type of violation is more serious. The Committee also once again requests the Government to provide information on the application in practice of the measures envisaged in Article 13 of the Convention, with a view to remedying defects observed in plant, layout or working methods which labour inspectors may have reasonable cause to believe constitute a threat to the health or safety of the workers. It also requests the Government to provide a copy of any legal text serving as a basis for these measures.