Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) - Netherlands (Ratification: 1991)

Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government regarding statistics on occupational diseases and industrial accidents. It notes that 2,971 occupational diseases were reported to the Netherlands Center for Occupational Diseases (NCvB) in 2022. Additionally, it notes that 3,866 industrial accidents were reported to the Labour Inspectorate in 2023, compared to 3,700 in 2022, 3,482 in 2021 and 3,655 in 2020. The Committee further notes that among these accidents, there were 72 fatalities in 2023, an increase from the 51 fatalities reported in 2022, 60 in 2021, and 54 in 2020. Moreover, according to the Labour Inspectorate’s 2023 annual report, over 50 per cent of reportable accidents remain unreported. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the reasons for the increase in the number of fatal accidents and on the steps taken to address this issue, as well as on the measures adopted or envisaged to strengthen the reporting of occupational accidents.

Articles 4, 7 and 8 of the Convention. National occupational safety and health (OSH) policy. Consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers. The Committee notes the Government’s reference to the adoption of the OSH policy 2040 (Arbovisie 2040), issued in October 2023, which is partly based on the recommendations of the Social and Economic Council (SER) outlined in its report, “Towards a working occupational health and safety system for all” (Part 1). The mission of the OSH policy 2040 is to prevent occupational fatalities and significantly decrease the number of occupational accidents and illnesses. The Government provides information on its implementation including: (i) investments in the availability and quality of risks assessments; (ii) financial incentives for employers for prevention (iii) simplifying and clarifying OSH regulations; (iv) improvements in accountability throughout the occupational chain; (v) underreporting of occupational diseases; (vi) strengthening worker involvement and (vii) occupational health services. The Government further indicates that a follow-up report from SER is expected in the second semester of 2024, which will focus on preventive measures and address topics such as ensuring safe and healthy working conditions in anticipation of future developments, potential adjustments to laws and policies regarding health and safety and methods for improving the organisation of health and safety services with an emphasis on prevention. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the implementation of the OSH policy 2040, as well as on its periodic review in consultation with the social partners.

Article 11(c). Notification of occupational diseases. Further to its previous comment, the Committee notes the Government’s reference to the OSH policy 2040, which announced several action points related to occupational diseases. This includes a recently launched project aimed at improving the reporting system for occupational diseases, which included the potential introduction of fines for occupational physicians or OSH services that fail to report such diseases. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on further measures taken or envisaged in order to improve the rate of notification of occupational diseases to the NCvB, as well as statistics on the reports received by the NCvB.Regarding notification to the labour inspectorate, the Committee requests the Government to refer to its comments regarding the application of Article 14 of Convention No. 81 and Article 19 of Convention No. 129 (notification of occupational diseases).

In addition, the Committee recalls the pending comment regarding the Radiation Protection Convention, 1960 (No. 115), Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139), Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise and Vibration) Convention, 1977 (No. 148), Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162), Chemicals Convention, 1990 (No. 170) and the Prevention of Major Industrial Accidents Convention, 1993 (No. 174), adopted by the Committee in 2022, for which the Government will be requested to reply in 2029 in accordance with the reporting cycle.