Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

Maximum Weight Convention, 1967 (No. 127) - Tunisia (Ratification: 1970)

The Committee notes the Government's statement that its comments have been brought to the attention of the Standing Committee of the National Council for the Prevention of Occupational Risks and will shortly be examined by a committee made up of the various parties concerned including employers' and workers' organizations.

The Committee recalls that its previous observation read as follows:

Article 3 of the Convention. In its 1994 observation on the Convention, the Committee noted that, pursuant to section 1 of the Order of 5 May 1988, the established maximum permissible weight to be carried by men, is set at 100 kg which considerably exceeds the recommended maximum of 55 kg. The Committee noted that regular manual transport of such loads is likely to jeopardize the health or safety of the workers, and requested the Government to re-examine the said provision in the light of the Convention and Recommendation No. 128. The Government, in its latest report, indicates that a commission will be established with the various parties concerned to examine the Committee's comments concerning the application of this Article of the Convention and that it will communicate to the Office the results of the commission's work in its next report. The Committee hopes that in this connection, account will be taken also of the information gathered by the medical services in non-agricultural enterprises and in ports in monitoring employees' health and physical aptitude -- information requested by the Committee in its previous observation, but not communicated by the Government -- as well as the possibilities created by the increasing mechanization of the transport of loads, referred to by the Government in its report, reducing the current limit of 100 kg maximum weight to be carried by one worker. The Committee hopes that the commission, referred to by the Government, will be able to conclude its work in the near future and that the Government will supply detailed information on the work of the commission and on the manner in which the most representative organizations of employers and workers have been or are being consulted on the matter, as well as on the measures taken or proposed to be taken to reduce the maximum permissible weight to be carried by one worker to a level that is not likely to jeopardize his health or safety.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.