Protection against Accidents (Dockers) Convention (Revised), 1932 (No. 32) - Uruguay (Ratification: 1933)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest the adoption of the Port Security and Hazardous Loads Manual approved by Decision No. 725/4.063 of 25 November 2020 of the National Port Administration, the purpose of which is to establish directives for the handling, unloading, storage and transport of hazardous goods in port installations.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Tripartite Port Commission, established under Decree No. 394/018 of 2018 on the regulation of activities considered to be dock work agreed in 2020 on a protocol to prevent the propagation of the COVID-19 virus in ports. The Government also indicates that the inspections carried out under the due Decree began to be undertaken as from 2020, but have been temporarily replaced by inspections to control working conditions to prevent the propagation of the COVID-19 virus. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the inspections carried out within the framework of Decree No. 394/018 of 2018 respecting the regulation of activities considered to be dock work, as well as information on the number and nature of the violations and accidents recorded.

Prospects for the ratification of the most up-to-date Convention. Noting the latest positive measures adopted by the Government in relation to the protection of dockworkers against accidents, the Committee encourages the Government to give effect to the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 328th Session (October-November 2016) approving the recommendations of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group and to consider the possibility of ratifying the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152), which is the most up-to-date instrument in this field.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Article 18 of the Convention. Mutual recognition of the arrangements made in their respective countries for testing, examining and annealing and of certificates and records relating thereto. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the status of its cooperation agreement with Paraguay, which was then at its initial stages. Given that this information is lacking, the Committee requests the Government to provide general information on the reciprocal arrangements established with other member States, in accordance with this Article of the Convention.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152), and the ILO code of practice were being used to prepare an occupational safety and health manual for ports and a decree to regulate working conditions in ports. The Committee welcomes the adoption, in 2018, of Decree No. 394/018 regulating activities deemed to be dock work, and requests the Government to provide information on all progress made on the occupational safety and health manual for ports.

More generally, the Committee requests the Government to provide an overview of the application of the Convention in practice, including, for example, extracts from inspectors’ reports, information on the number and nature of violations reported and the resulting action taken and the number and nature of occupational accidents and diseases reported..

Prospects for ratification of the most up-to-date Convention. Noting the latest positive measures taken by the Government to protect dock workers from accidents, the Committee encourages the Government to follow up the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 328th Session (October–November 2016), approving the recommendations of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group, and to consider the possibility of ratifying Convention No. 152, which is the most up-to-date instrument in this field.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Article 18 of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the situation remains unchanged in relation to the information provided previously which reported that a cooperation agreement with Paraguay was at the initial stages. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing any relevant information on this matter.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government, and particularly the Government’s indication that in 2007 an inspection team was established within the General Inspectorate for Labour and Social Security of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security devoted exclusively to controlling the working conditions and environment in ports. As a result of the action of this inspection team, the General Labour Inspectorate has included its own delegates into standing working groups established within the framework of the General Port Administration, namely: the Committee for the Management of the Port Environment and the Committee on Safety and Health in Ports. The membership of both committees also includes other State institutions and representatives of employers and workers in the sector. A working group has also been established, which will be coordinated by the Port Team of the General Labour Inspectorate, and will be composed of all the public and private actors engaged in the operation of ports with the task of preparing a specific standard based on the ILO code of practice covering this subject. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on this matter.

With reference to its previous comments on the invitation made by the Governing Body of the ILO for States which are parties to the present Convention to consider the ratification of the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152), the Committee notes with interest the Government’s indication that Convention No. 152 and the code of practice, as they are more updated, are being used as a basis for the preparation of an occupational safety and health manual for ports, which is being prepared by the National Port Administration, and for the preparation of a future decree to regulate working conditions in ports, the preliminary draft of which has begun to be discussed jointly by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the General Port Administration, the Single Trade Union for Port and Allied Workers and the Navigation Centre. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on any progress in this respect.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s most recent report and its response to the Committee’s comments.

2. Article 18 of the Convention. Mutual recognition of arrangements made in their respective countries for testing, examining and annealing, and of certificates and records relating thereto. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that reciprocal arrangements have not yet been established with other member States on the subject matter referred to in this Article. With reference to comments made by the Committee since 1996, the Committee urges the Government to take appropriate steps in order to enter into reciprocal arrangements on the basis of this Convention with the other Members for this purpose and to provide information on the effect given in practice to this Article of the Convention.

3. Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government that a team of inspectors specifically dedicated to verifying the working conditions in ports has been formed and that efforts were being made to develop a comprehensive system of statistics related to labour inspections. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of the results of these efforts and all relevant developments in respect of the application in practice of this Convention.

4. The Committee takes the opportunity to recall that the Governing Body of the ILO has invited parties to Convention No. 32 to consider ratification of Convention No. 152, which revised Convention No. 32 (GB.268/LILS/5(Rev.1)), paragraphs 99–101). Such ratification would automatically entail an immediate denunciation of Convention No. 32. The Committee also wishes to bring to the Government’s attention an ILO code of practice in this area, Safety and health in ports, Geneva, 2005. This code of practice is available, inter alia, through the ILO’s web site by following the link, http://www.ilo.org/public/english/
protection/safework/cops/english/index.htm. The Government is requested to keep the Committee informed of any developments in this respect.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s most recent report and the detailed legislative information.

2. Article 18 of the Convention. Mutual recognition of arrangements made in their respective countries for testing, examining and annealing and of certificates and records relating thereto. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that reciprocal arrangements have not yet been established with other member States on the subject matter referred to in this Article. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the obligation contained in paragraph 1 of this Article, which is mutual recognition by all the member States which have ratified the Convention of the provisions adopted in their respective countries for testing, examining and annealing of certificates and records relating thereto. The Committee requests the Government to make necessary efforts and to take appropriate steps in order to enter into reciprocal arrangements on the basis of this Convention with the other Members for this purpose and to supply information on the effect given in practice to this Article of the Convention.

3. The Committee takes this opportunity to recall that the Governing Body of the ILO has invited parties to Convention No. 32 to consider ratification of the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152), which revised Convention No. 32 (GB.268/LILS/5(Rev.1), paragraphs 99-101). Such a ratification would automatically entail an immediate denunciation of Convention No. 32. The Committee also wishes to bring to the Government’s attention, the ILO’s newly adopted code of practice in this area – Safety and health in ports, Geneva, 2005. This code of practice is available, inter alia, through the ILO’s web site by following the link, http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/
cops/english/index.htm. The Government is requested to keep the Committee informed of any developments in this respect.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report and the text of the Ports Act (Act No. 16246 of 8 April 1992) and Decrees Nos. 412/992 and 413/992 issuing regulations under the Act.

Article 18 of the Convention. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes that reciprocal arrangements have not yet been established with other member States on the provisions contained in the Convention. The Committee draws the Government's attention to the purpose of the obligation contained in paragraph 1 of this Article, which is the mutual recognition by all the member States which have ratified the Convention of the provisions adopted in their respective countries for testing, examining and annealing and of certificates and records relating thereto. The Committee therefore hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to supply information on the effect given in practice to this Article of the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

The Committee notes the information and legislative texts supplied by the Government and the comments made by employers' organizations, which were transmitted by the Government in its report.

1. The Committee notes, from the Government's report, the adoption of Decree No. 406/88 under Act No. 5032 of 3 June 1988, on the prevention of industrial accidents, which is of a general nature and covers all public and private industrial, commercial and service establishments, irrespective of their activities and their objective. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply a copy of this text with its next report.

2. The Committee refers to its previous direct request and requests the Government to supply information on the effect given in practice to Article 18 of the Convention (the undertaking to enter into reciprocal arrangements with the other Members which have ratified the Convention, including more particularly the mutual recognition of the arrangements made in their respective countries for testing and examining and of certificates and records relating thereto).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

The Committee notes the Government's report which, among other matters, reports the changes relating to the competence of the General Inspectorate of Labour and Social Security, introduced by Act 15851 of 24 December 1986. In view of the fact that the text of this Act has not been received, the Committee requests the Government to supply a copy of it with its next report.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would also supply information on the effect given in practice to Article 8 of the Convention (which obliges it to enter into reciprocal agreements with the other Members which have ratified this Convention).