Solicitud directa (CEACR) - Adopción: 2025, Publicación: 114ª reunión CIT (2026)

Chipre

Convenio sobre seguridad y salud de los trabajadores, 1981 (núm. 155) (Ratificación : 1989)
Convenio sobre el marco promocional para la seguridad y salud en el trabajo, 2006 (núm. 187) (Ratificación : 2009)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified occupational safety and health (OSH) Conventions, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 155 (OSH) and 187 (promotional framework for OSH) together.

National policy

Articles 4 and 7 of Convention No. 155 and Article 3(1) of Convention No. 187. National OSH policy. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report regarding the implementation of the National OSH Strategy 2021–2027, structured around ten pillars aimed at strengthening occupational safety and health (OSH). These include enhancing institutional and legislative OSH frameworks, ensuring the effective operation of the labour inspection system, improving supporting OSH institutions and expanding the health surveillance and promotion system.

The Government indicates that the implementation of the 2021–2027 Strategy is monitored annually through a dedicated Action Plan, which compiles the contributions of all organizations represented in the Pancyprian Safety and Health Council as well as other relevant public and private entities. Each year, these organizations report their actions to the Department of Labour Inspection (DLI), which consolidates and publishes the Action Plan for public access. The Government also indicates that based on DLI’s analysis of work-related accident data, there has been a notable 17.8 per cent reduction in the accident rate between 2021 and 2024. Taking due note of this information, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on measures taken to implement the National OSH strategy and its annual Action Plan, as well as on the results achieved.

National system

Article 4(3)(d) of Convention No. 187. Occupational health services. In response to the Committee’s previous request, the Government indicates that employers are required to monitor the health of workers in jobs with identified health risks, in line with regulations on risk factors. The Government states that the DLI continues its efforts to gradually expand the health surveillance system of employed persons. In the framework of the enforcement of the Safety and Health at Work (Health Surveillance) Regulations of 2017, the Government introduced two new Ministerial Orders in 2022. These Orders focus on medical and laboratory examinations for workers involved in the manufacture and handling of pesticides, as well as those working with anticancer drugs in the healthcare sector. Additionally, in 2024, the DLI prepared drafts for two new Ministerial Orders, covering medical and laboratory examinations for professional bus drivers, freight transport drivers and workers engaged in the painting and polishing of motor vehicles. These drafts are currently under negotiation with social partners. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on efforts to maintain, progressively develop and periodically review the provision of occupational health services.

Article 11(c) of Convention No. 155 and Article 4(3)(f) and (g) of Convention No. 187. Collection and analysis of data on occupational injuries and diseases. Collaboration with relevant insurance and social security schemes. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the DLI continues its efforts to establish a system for collecting data on occupational diseases. However, a recent change in the Social Insurance Services (SIS) submission procedure has made it impossible for SIS to transmit disease diagnosis data to the DLI. As a result, the necessary information for classifying diseases is no longer available through SIS and cannot be transmitted to the DLI. The Government indicates that the DLI will continue to collaborate with SIS and propose improvements to the data collected, including information on disease diagnoses. In addition, the DLI is gathering data from other sources, such as mesothelioma cancer registries, health ministries, oncology centres, and reports from doctors on occupational diseases, and the DLI’s inspection activities. Nevertheless, the Government states that despite the efforts being made to improve the system of data collection on occupational diseases, due to under-reporting of occupational diseases, the data collected remains low and does not accurately reflect the current situation. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on measures taken to strengthen the production of statistics on cases of occupational disease, including through enhancing the collaboration between the DLI and the SIS.

Article 4(3)(h) of Convention No. 187. Progressive improvement of occupational safety and health conditions in microenterprises, in small and medium-sized enterprises. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it has pursued a broad set of actions in order to strengthen support mechanisms for the progressive improvement of OSH in microenterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises. These include the continued development and promotion of Online Interactive Risk Assessment (OiRA) tools tailored to the needs of SMEs (that make 98 per cent of businesses in the country), as well as awareness-raising and information activities implemented in cooperation with different partners. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that targeted inspection campaigns have been carried out in various economic activities supported by preparatory questionnaires and guidance materials distributed to inspectors and the social partners. In addition, sector-specific training programmes have been developed, accompanied by the dissemination of good practices, the application of economic and other incentives, and the preparation of simplified and accessible OSH information. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that there has been an increase in the proportion of establishments in the country regularly conducting risk assessments, rising from 46 per cent in 2019 to 52 per cent in 2024. Taking due note of the information provided, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to establish support mechanisms for a progressive improvement of OSH in microenterprises and in small and medium-sized enterprises, and on the impact of these measures.

Action at the level of the undertaking

Article 13 and Article 19(f) of Convention No. 155. Protection of workers removed from situations presenting imminent and serious danger. The Committee previously noted that under sections 11(1) and (2) of the Management of Safety and Health Issues at Work Regulations of 2021, workers shall have the right to remove themselves from danger when they are exposed to a serious, immediate and unavoidable danger. The Committee recalled that Articles 13 and 19(f) of Convention No. 155 do not refer to a danger that is “unavoidable” and include situations in which workers reasonably believe that there is an imminent and serious danger. The Committee takes due note of the Government’s statement that this requirement will be considered when the relevant regulations are amended. The Committee requests the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure that national legislation or regulations provide that workers shall have the right to remove themselves from danger when they have a reasonable justification to believe that there is an imminent and serious danger.

In addition, the Committee recalls the pending comments regarding the technical OSH Conventions ratified (the Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162), and the Chemicals Convention, 1990 (No. 170)), adopted by the Committee in 2022, for which the Government will be requested to reply in accordance with the reporting cycle.