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

Benzene Convention, 1971 (No. 136) - Serbia (Ratification: 2000)

The Committee notes the observations of the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions of Serbia (CATUS) communicated with the Government’s report.

Legislation. The Committee notes the adoption of the Rulebook on preventive measures relating to safety and health in workplaces involving exposure to chemical agents and the Rulebook on preventive measures relating to safety and health in workplaces involving exposure to carcinogens and mutagens. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of these texts.

Article 11(1) of the Convention. Prohibition of the employment of pregnant women and nursing mothers in work processes involving exposure to benzene. The Committee notes, from the Government’s report, that the Labour Law prohibits the employment of pregnant workers or workers who have recently given birth in jobs which could have harmful effects on their health and that of their child (section 89). The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the manner in which it ensures, in law and in practice, that the employment of pregnant women and nursing mothers in work processes involving exposure to benzene is prohibited, as required by this Article of the Convention.

Application in practice. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government on the activities of the Labour Inspectorate, the deficiencies and irregularities identified and the measures taken to address them. The Committee also notes that according to its work plan for 2014, the Labour Inspectorate intended to focus on the supervision of industries involving potential exposure to carcinogenic and mutagenic agents so as to evaluate progress made in the implementation of the relevant legislation. It further notes that a number of initiatives were launched in the context of the project, “Improving safety and health at work in Serbia”, including in the textile, leather and footwear industry, to provide training to employers and workers and raise awareness on safety and health issues. In addition, the Committee takes note of the observations made by CATUS in which it points to the absence of supervision in the informal economy which poses a risk to the safety and health of workers and the public, as well as a threat to the environment. CATUS calls for the modernization and upgrading of installations where hazardous substances are handled in light of updated technical standards. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in respect of the observations made by CATUS. It also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention in practice, including relevant extracts from inspection reports and, where such exists, information on the number of workers covered by the legislation, the number and nature of the contraventions reported, and the number, nature and cause of cases of occupational disease reported.