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

Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention, 1925 (No. 18) - Burkina Faso (Ratification: 1960)

List of occupational diseases. The Committee notes the Government’s statement concerning its participation in the ongoing process of reviewing and harmonizing the national list of occupational diseases in the area covered by the Inter-African Conference on Social Security (CIPRES). It also notes that, in order to be able to comply with these lists, Decree No. 355-1996 on occupational diseases recognized in Burkina Faso will be revised as soon as the CIPRES has adopted its conclusions on this matter. The Committee notes that many member States of CIPRES, including Burkina Faso, have ratified a number of ILO Conventions concerning occupational diseases, such as Convention No. 18, the Workmen’s Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention (Revised), 1934 (No. 42), and the Employment Injury Benefits Convention, 1964 [Schedule I amended in 1980] (No. 121). The Committee recalls that Members taking part in regional processes to integrate or harmonize their national laws remain bound by the obligations under the ILO Conventions they have ratified and must therefore ensure that the decisions adopted at regional level allow them to respect their international commitments. In this respect, the Committee hopes that the Government will be able in the near future to inform the Committee of the revision of Decree No. 355-1996 that will include, as requested in its previous comments, a full reference to anthrax infection and all the poisonings caused by lead and mercury, their allies, amalgams and compounds. Finally, the Committee draws the Government’s and Office’s attention to the interest that might lie in developing cooperation between CIPRES and the International Labour Organization, especially to ensure that when harmonizing the schedules of occupational diseases, the content of the revised Schedule I of Convention No. 121 [Schedule I amended in 1980], and the List of Occupational Diseases Recommendation, 2002 (No. 194) is taken into account.

Practical application of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide in its next report statistical information on the number of occupational diseases recorded and on the corresponding amount of compensation paid.