Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 (No. 19) - Bolivia (Plurinational State of) (Ratification: 1954)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of the ratified Conventions on social security, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 19, 102, 118, 121, 128 and 130 together.

Article 1(2) of Convention No. 19 and Articles 7 and 8 of Convention No. 118. Payment of benefits abroad and social security agreements. The Committee notes the information on the implementation of the Ibero-American Multilateral Agreement on Social Security.

Article 10(1) of Convention No. 118. Equality of treatment for refugees and stateless persons. The Committee notes that, according to the Government’s indications, there is no relevant legislation ensuring the principle of equality of treatment for refugees and stateless persons. In this context, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted to ensure that the provisions of the Convention are applicable to refugees and stateless persons without any condition of reciprocity, as required by Article 10(1).

Temporary exceptions specified when ratifying Conventions Nos 102, 121, 128 and 130 in 1977. The Committee notes that the Government availed itself, at the time of ratification, of the possibility envisaged in these instruments of temporarily restricting the scope of the persons protected and their entitlement to benefits. The Committee recalls that these exceptions are envisaged for countries whose economy and medical facilities are insufficiently developed and that, in light of their temporary nature, they require a periodic assessment of the reasons that justify such exceptions. Considering the time that has elapsed since the ratification of these Conventions, the Committee requests the Government to provide information, for each temporary exception, on the reason that justifies its maintenance or the intention of renouncing it as from a specific data.

Conventions Nos 102, 121, 128 and 130. Scope of coverage and level of benefits. The Committee recalls that the fact that the Government has availed itself of the temporary exceptions referred to above does not affect its obligation to provide information on compliance with the provisions of these instruments. With a view to being able to assess correctly the level of compliance in relation to coverage and the level of benefits, the Committee requests the Government to provide, for each of the following Articles, the statistical data in the format required by the report form for each instrument:

Convention No. 102.

Part II. Medical care. Article 9 (in conjunction with Article 76). Persons protected.

Part VII. Family benefit. Articles 41 (in conjunction with Article 76), 42 and 44. Persons protected and total value of the benefits granted.

Convention No. 121.

Articles 4, 14 and 18 (in conjunction with Article 19 or 20). Persons protected and rate of the benefit.

Convention No. 128.

Articles 9, 10, 16, 17, 22 and 23 (in conjunction with Article 26, 27 or 28). Persons protected and rate of the benefit.

Convention No. 130.

Articles 19 and 21 (in conjunction with Article 22 or 23). Persons protected and rate of the benefit.

The Committee reminds the Government that it can have recourse to the technical assistance of the Office in relation to coverage and the rate of benefits for each of the contingencies covered. 

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Article 1 of the Convention (in conjunction with Article 2). Equality of treatment in relation to employment accidents. The Committee understands from the Government’s report, received in August 2012, that section 104 of Act No. 065 of December 2010 replaces section 6 of Decree 25902, which is no longer applicable. It notes with interest that, under section 104 of Act No. 065, all foreigners who maintain a dependent labour relationship on Bolivian territory are covered by occupational risk insurance, the only exception being foreigners who maintain a dependent labour relationship with diplomatic missions, consulates and international organizations accredited vis-à-vis the Plurinational State of Bolivia.

Article 1(2). Payment of benefits abroad. The Government explains in its report that section 7 of Supreme Decree No. 25902 does not address payment of benefits abroad as it applies only to transfers of contributions made to pension funds. The Committee notes the Government’s statements that, to date, there is no procedure for transferring benefits generated in the Plurinational State of Bolivia to another member State party to the Convention. However, as indicated in the Government’s report on the application of the Equality of Treatment (Social Security) Convention, 1962 (No. 118), the Committee understands that, further to the entry into force on 1 May 2011 of the Ibero-American Multilateral Social Security Agreement to which the Plurinational State of Bolivia is party, the transfer of benefits, including invalidity benefits, to other countries which have also signed the agreement implementing the Ibero-American Agreement is now possible. The Committee requests the Government to send information in its next report on the mechanisms for implementing the Ibero-American Agreement, indicating in particular the type and amount of benefits which have been transferred abroad by the Bolivian social security system.

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

Article 1 of the Convention (in conjunction with Article 2). Equality of treatment in relation to employment accidents. Application in practice. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the adoption, in the context of the implementation of Act No. 1732 of 29 November 1996 on pensions, of Supreme Decree No. 25902 of 15 September 2000 determining the conditions for coverage by long-term compulsory social insurance (SSO) in the case of foreign nationals employed in the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Under the terms of section 6 of the Decree, foreign nationals employed in the country in a dependent employment relationship who conserve in their country of origin coverage similar to that guaranteed in the context of the SSO may not be subject to the requirement to register with the SSO provided that they make an application to that effect to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, accompanied by the necessary documents to justify the approval of their application. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the possibility envisaged in section 6 of Decree No. 25902 applies to temporary and intermittent workers, in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to specify whether this arrangement makes it possible to ensure that a foreign national who is the victim of an employment accident in the Plurinational State of Bolivia, and who has maintained employment accident coverage in her or his country of origin, receives all of the necessary medical care under the same conditions as Bolivian nationals and within the medically required time limits.

Article 1(2). Payment of benefits abroad. The Committee notes that, under the terms of section 7 of Decree No. 25902, when foreign workers covered by the SSO leave the Plurinational State of Bolivia definitively, including following an employment accident, they are authorized to request the transfer of their acquired rights to their country of residence when a bilateral agreement has been concluded to this effect in the context of the principle of international reciprocity. The Committee notes that the Convention establishes an automatic reciprocity system between States that have ratified the Convention with a view to avoiding the conclusion of multiple bilateral agreements between the States as parties. The Committee requests the Government to indicate how it organizes the payment of invalidity and survivors’ pensions in the event of the residence abroad of the beneficiaries, whether they are of Bolivian nationality or nationals of a State that has ratified the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to its previous comments. It hopes that the next report will include full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the entry into force of Act No. 1732 of 29 November 1996 on pensions and its implementing regulations (Supreme Decree No. 24469 of 17 January 1997). It hopes that the Government’s next report will contain information on the impact of this legislation on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment between national and foreign workers and their dependents in the case of industrial injury. Please indicate in particular whether, in the event of employment injury, a beneficiary of invalidity or survivors’ pension would be entitled to the payment of these benefits in the case of residence abroad, whether that person is a Bolivian national or a citizen of any State which has ratified the Convention. Please also indicate the relevant provisions in this respect.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the entry into force of Act No. 1732 of 29 November 1996 on pensions and its implementing regulations (Supreme Decree No. 24469 of 17 January 1997). It hopes that the Government’s next report will contain information on the impact of this legislation on the implementation of the Convention. Please indicate in particular whether, in the event of employment injury, beneficiaries of an invalidity or survivors’ pension are entitled to the payment of their benefits in the case of residence abroad, whether they are nationals of Bolivia or of any State which has ratified the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

The Committee notes the entry into force of Act No. 1732 of 29 November 1996 on pensions and its implementing regulations (Supreme Decree No. 24469 of 17 January 1997). It hopes that the Government’s next report will contain information on the impact of this legislation on the implementation of the Convention. Please indicate in particular whether, in the event of employment injury, beneficiaries of an invalidity or survivors’ pension are entitled to the payment of their benefits in the case of residence abroad, whether they are nationals of Bolivia or of any State which has ratified the Convention.