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

Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention (Revised), 1934 (No. 42) - Suriname (Ratification: 1976)

The Committee notes that since 2006, the Government has been indicating that the Ministry of Labour was involved in the total revision of labour legislation, including the revision of the Industrial Accidents Act of 10 September 1947 (No. 145 of 1947, as amended), in order to bring the national legislation into conformity with international labour standards. Taking into account similar statements the Government has been making for the last 20 years, the Committee asks it to supply a copy of the draft provision which should have been prepared in order to complete the list of occupational diseases established by section 25 of this Act, by including among the activities likely to cause anthrax infection the “loading and unloading or transport of merchandise”, as required by the Convention.

The Committee notes that section 25 of the Act does not refer to the specific trades, industries or processes mentioned in the Schedule to the Convention with regard to diseases produced by lead and mercury, but covers all activities where workers manipulate these substances. The Committee requests the Government to confirm in its next report that workers employed in activities listed in the Schedule with regard to poisoning by lead and mercury, would not be required to prove the occupational origin of their disease.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2012.]