Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 (No. 118) - Suriname (Ratification: 1976)

Articles 4, 5 and 7 of the Convention. Equality of treatment of workers living abroad. Referring to its long-standing comments regarding the need to amend section 6(8) of the Industrial Accidents Act (IAA), which, contrary to the Convention, restricts payment of employment injury pensions to beneficiaries residing abroad, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that a Committee charged with reforming the legislation on occupational safety and health (OSH) will also attempt amending the IAA in order to bring it into conformity with the Convention. As regards in particular the payment of certain benefits in case of residence abroad guaranteed by Article 5 of the Convention, the Government indicates that it is currently reviewing the practical implementation of this provision as making the benefits payable abroad is rendered difficult by the high cost of monthly bank transfers.

The Committee wishes to point out in this respect that Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention guarantee the payment of, inter alia, employment injury benefits to nationals and foreign workers from countries which also accepted the obligations of the Convention as regards employment injury benefits who reside abroad. The Committee further observes that, for the purpose of giving effect to the obligations derived from the Convention, Article 7(1) thereof requires the Members’ party to the Convention to endeavour to participate in schemes for the maintenance of the acquired rights and rights in course of acquisition. Such agreements may also stipulate the financial arrangements for the payment of benefits to beneficiaries residing on the territory of each of the contracting parties. The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate whether provisions on the payment of employment injury benefits to workers protected under the Convention and living abroad have been included in the draft prepared by the new OSH commission. The Committee firmly hopes that the ongoing review process will, in the near future, lead to a change of the national legislation and practice concerning the payment of benefits to workers living abroad including by way of concluding agreements with countries in its region, who equally ratified the Convention and accepted its Part (g), such as Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, Uruguay or the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, to facilitate the payment of benefits to these countries, including through the conclusion of bilateral agreements as the case may be.