Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Underground Work (Women) Convention, 1935 (No. 45) - Guinea-Bissau (Ratification: 1977)

The Committee notes the Government's indication, in its report, that it has taken note of the Governing Body's decision to identify Convention No. 45 as an outdated instrument. The Government indicates that, through the General Directorate of Labour, it intends to formulate a proposal for the ratification of the Safety and Health in Mines Convention, 1995 (No. 176) and that it will keep the Committee informed of any progress in this respect.

The Committee recalls that the ILO Governing Body (at its 334th Session, October–November 2018), on the recommendation of the Standards Review Mechanism (SRM) Tripartite Working Group, classified Convention No. 45 as an outdated instrument, and has placed an item on the agenda of the 112th Session of the International Labour Conference in 2024 concerning its abrogation. The Governing Body also requested the Office to follow up with Member States currently bound by Convention No. 45 to encourage the ratification of up-to-date instruments concerning occupational safety and health, in particular Convention No. 176, and to undertake a campaign to promote the ratification of Convention No. 176. Welcoming the Government’s information, the Committee invites it to follow up on the Governing Body’s decision at its 334th Session (October–November 2018), approving the recommendations of the SRM Tripartite Working Group, and to consider ratifying the most up-to-date instruments in this subject area. The Committee takes this opportunity to remind the Government that in June 2022, the International Labour Conference added the principle of a safe and healthy working environment to the fundamental principles and rights at work, thereby amending the 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. The Committee draws the Government's attention to the possibility of requesting the technical assistance of the Office in order to bring both practice and applicable legislation in line with the fundamental Conventions on occupational safety and health, thus promoting their effective ratification and application.