Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161) - Belgium (Ratification: 2011)

Legislation. The Committee notes with interest the information supplied by the Government in its first report concerning legislation enabling effect to be given to most provisions of the Convention, and particularly the Act of 4 August 1996 on the welfare of workers in the performance of their work and three Royal Orders of 27 March 1998 concerning, respectively, the policy on the welfare of workers in the performance of their work, the internal occupational prevention and protection service and the external occupational prevention and protection services.

Article 16 of the Convention. Competent authorities. Part VI of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the information sent by Government on the practical effect given to the Convention, and particularly the difficulties observed by the Directorate General for the Supervision of Occupational Welfare in monitoring the external occupational prevention and protection services. Some of the difficulties are related to the frequency of visits, the completeness of reports, the time lag between visits and the receipt of reports, and the accuracy and relevance of reports. It also notes that in its report the Government suggests solutions to the difficulties, such as reducing the number of points to be evaluated, preparing inspectors to evaluate and report on the operation of the services, etc. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention in practice, including particulars of the results of the measures proposed by the Government, and to enclose any useful documents such as extracts of labour inspection reports.