Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention (Revised), 1934 (No. 42) - Guyana (Ratification: 1966)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

Repetition

The Committee recalls that it has been drawing the Government’s attention since 1971 to the need to amend the list of occupational diseases attached to Regulation No. 34 of 1969, implementing Act No. 15 of 1969 on national insurance and social security. It notes with regret, from the information communicated by the Government in its last report, that this list has still not been amended but that the competent authorities have been requested to accelerate the review procedure of the relevant regulation. It further notes that the Government no longer refers to the legislative reform regarding occupational safety and health. The Committee trusts that the Government will be able to take the measures necessary as soon as possible to amend the list of occupational diseases to ensure full application of the Convention on the following points:

• (a) No. 1(x), (xi), (xii) and (xiv) on this list are to be replaced by a heading containing in general terms all halogen derivatives of hydrocarbons of the aliphatic series;
• (b) No. 7, which refers to certain disorders due to radiation should include all pathological manifestations due to radium and other radioactive substances or X-rays and the list of processes likely to induce these should be completed;
• (c) No. 1(i) and (v) relating to poisoning by lead and its compounds and mercury and its compounds should include lead alloys and mercury amalgams respectively;
• (d) No. 1(iii), which refers to poisoning by phosphorus and its compounds, should include the inorganic compounds of phosphorus;
• (e) No. 2 should include, among the processes likely to induce anthrax infection, all loading and unloading or transport of merchandise of any kind;
• (f) silicosis with or without pulmonary tuberculosis and the industries or processes involving the risk of this infection should also be added to the list.

The Committee wishes to remind the Government that it may request technical assistance from the ILO in this domain.

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