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

Bolivia (Plurinational State of)

Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162) (Ratification: 1990)
Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167) (Ratification: 2015)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on occupational safety and health (OSH), the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 162 (asbestos) and 167 (safety and health in construction) together.

The Committee notes the observations of the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), received on 1 September 2025.

Follow-up to the Conclusions of the Committee on the Application of Standards International Labour Conference, 113th Session, June 2025)

The Committee notes the discussion in the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards (CAS) of the International Labour Conference, at its 113th Session (June 2025), on the application of Conventions Nos 162 and 167. In its conclusions, the CAS noted with concern that the national occupational safety and health regulations did not contain specific regulations on asbestos and recalled that a safe and healthy environment is a fundamental principle and right at work. Taking the discussion into account, the Committee urged the Government to:

• initiate legislative measures, after full consultation with the most representative employers’ and workers’ organizations, to guarantee the full compliance of national law (including on policies for asbestos and construction; risk prevention and control; disability and inclusion; and on the provision of respiratory protection equipment and special protective clothing) and practice with the Convention;
• adopt, without delay, in consultation with the most representative employers’ and workers’ organizations, concrete and specific measures to complement the existing framework and ensure the full implementation of the Convention in all sectors and industries;
• ensure that records of monitoring the working environment and workers’ exposure to asbestos are maintained for a prescribed period, and that the workers concerned, their representatives, and the inspection services have access to those records, as well as the right to request monitoring of the working environment and to appeal to the competent authority regarding the results of such monitoring;
• adopt specific measures without delay to ensure that workers are informed in an adequate and appropriate manner of the results of their medical examinations and receive advice concerning their health in relation to their work in situations involving exposure to asbestos.

The Committee notes that, in its observations, the IOE refers to the opening and closing statements of the Employer members and to the statement of an Employer member from Bolivia (Plurinational State of) during the discussion. In this regard, it hopes that progress will be made in the application of Conventions Nos 162 and 167, in accordance with the conclusions of the CAS and in close consultation with the most representative employers’ organizations.

Protection against specific risks

Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162) (ratification: 1990)

Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention. Legislation and consultation. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that, although there is no specific legislation comprehensively regulating the use of asbestos, the national legislation in force establishes provisions aimed at protecting workers’ health against this hazard. It also indicates that measures relating to the handling of asbestos and to regulatory reforms are developed in consultation with the social partners in joint OSH committees and in other tripartite consultation bodies. Regarding the conclusions adopted by the CAS, the Committee also notes the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Welfare has introduced an inter-agency plan to address the safe use and management of asbestos in the country, which was presented to the most representative employers’ and workers’ organizations at a meeting in June 2025. In this regard, the Committee notes that the Government provides the following information: (i) a technical training programme will be implemented on the safe handling of chrysotile and its public health hazards, aimed at vulnerable sectors such as the construction and automotive sectors; (ii) a guide will be developed to reinforce preventive measures; (iii) work will be undertaken to improve, review and amend technical safety standards relating to asbestos; and (iv) inter-agency working groups will be established, including the participation of the Ministry of the Environment and Water. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the plan is being implemented in collaboration with the National Institute for Occupational Health (INSO), the World Health Organization (WHO) and international experts, and that technical support from the ILO will also be required. It further notes that, according to the Government, the plan also involves the participation of the International Chrysotile Association (ICA).

In this regard, the Committee notes with concern the document provided by the Government as an annex to its report, published by the ICA, entitled “The truth about chrysotile”, which, among other assertions, indicates that: (i) the use of chrysotile is safe for people and the environment; and (ii) chrysotile is one of the most scientifically studied fibres and, in practice, it has been shown that, with appropriate measures and standards in place, it does not affect workers’ health, provided they are not exposed to fibre dust. In this regard, the Committee once again recalls that the resolution concerning asbestos, adopted by the 95th Session of the International Labour Conference in June 2006, considered that all forms of asbestos are classified as known human carcinogens and stated that the elimination of the future use of asbestos and the identification and proper management of asbestos currently in place are the most effective means to protect workers from asbestos exposure and to prevent future asbestos-related diseases and deaths. The Committee also recalls that, in accordance with Article 3(2) of the Convention, national laws and regulations giving effect to the Convention must take account of advances in scientific knowledge. In this context, the Committee strongly urges the Government, based on scientific knowledge, to adopt the necessary measures, within the framework of the inter-agency plan on the use and management of asbestos, to ensure that national laws or regulations prescribe measures for the prevention and control of, and protection of workers in all sectors and industries against health hazards (Article 3 of the Convention), in consultation with the most representative organizations of employers and workers concerned (Article 4). The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on progress made in this regard. The Committee also hopes that technical assistance relating to the inter-agency plan will be provided in the near future.

Articles 9, 10, 11 and 12. Measures by law or regulation to prevent or control exposure to asbestos, including replacement or prohibition. Prohibition of the use of crocidolite and spraying. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that, although the national OSH legislation is generic, it contributes to reducing the use of asbestos, as enterprises in various sectors take measures to protect the safety of workers against exposure to agents harmful to their health. The Government also indicates that it is working, through inter-agency working groups, to draft a bill providing for the total or progressive prohibition of asbestos, the safe management of hazards, dismantling plans, training and certification, health surveillance, and increased penalties. In these circumstances, the Committee urges the Government to continue its efforts to ensure that national laws or regulations give full effect to Articles 9 and 10 (measures by law or regulation for prevention or control), 11 (prohibition of crocidolite) and 12 (prohibition of spraying) of the Convention in all sectors and industries. It also requests the Government to provide information on the progress made in drafting the above bill through the inter-agency working groups.

Article 15(3). Measures to prevent or control the release of asbestos dust and to ensure compliance with exposure limits.The Committee requests the Government, within the framework of the inter-agency plan, to take the necessary measures to ensure that exposure to asbestos is reduced to as low a level as is reasonably practicable in all sectors and industries. It also requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken by labour inspection to ensure compliance in practice with asbestos exposure limits.

Article 16. Responsibility of employers for prevention and control measures. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that, in order to ensure that employers are made responsible for safety measures relating to asbestos protection, working groups were established in May 2025, together with the INSO, within the framework of the above plan. The Committee requests the Government to take concrete measures, including through laws or regulations developed within the framework of the inter-agency plan, to ensure that employers are made responsible for the establishment and implementation of practical measures for the prevention and control of the exposure of the workers they employ to asbestos and for their protection against the hazards due to asbestos in all sectors and industries.

Article 20(2), (3) and (4). Keeping records of the monitoring of the working environment. Access to such records. Right to request the monitoring of the working environment. Further to its previous comments and the conclusions adopted by the CAS, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that, although enterprises that may use materials containing asbestos are subject to the obligation to ensure a safe working environment, specific procedures for recording, keeping and having access to such information are not established through any mechanism or protocol. The Committee once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that: (i) the records of the monitoring of the working environment and of the exposure of workers to asbestos are kept for a period prescribed by the competent authority (Article 20(2)); (ii) the workers concerned, their representatives and the inspection services have access to these records (Article 20(3)); and (iii) the workers or their representatives have the right to request the monitoring of the working environment and to appeal to the competent authority concerning the results of the monitoring (Article 20(4)).

Protection in specific branches of activity

Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167)

Article 12(2) of the Convention. Obligation of the employer to take immediate steps to stop the operation and evacuate workers. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the Government refers once again to the regulations on drills, emergency plans and worker protocols, and that it does not provide specific information on the obligation of employers to take immediate steps to stop the operation and evacuate workers as appropriate where there is an imminent danger to the safety of workers. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to take, without delay, the necessary measures to give effect to this Article of the Convention in order to require that where there is an imminent danger to the safety of workers the employer must take immediate steps to stop the operation and evacuate workers as appropriate.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.

[The Government is asked to reply in full to the present comments in 2026. ]