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

Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) Convention (Revised), 1934 (No. 42) - Comoros (Ratification: 1978)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. However, it notes the new information sent by the Workers Confederation of Comoros (CTC) on 27 August 2013 reporting the absence of progress in the recognition and compensation of occupational diseases and absence of doctors in the country specializing in occupational health. According to the CTC, no institution takes responsibility for issues relating to occupational diseases, and the courts are not aware of the existence of the Convention and annexed Schedule of occupational diseases. The Committee recalls that, in its previous comments in 2011, the CTC reported, as the Federation of Autonomous Comoran Workers’ Organizations (USATC) already had in 2000, the absence of a technical structure for the recognition of occupational diseases and national supervisory machinery. The Committee also recalls that in 2007 the Government indicated that it was aware of the need to establish an occupational health service and indicated that a study was being prepared on the basis for adopting a national occupational safety and health policy. In its observations of 2007 and 2012, the Committee drew the Government’s attention to the need to repeal Order No. 59 73 of 25 April 1959, which has fallen into abeyance, and to replace it with a new legislative text recognizing the occupational origin of the diseases set out in the Schedule appended to Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide a detailed report for examination at its next session and to inform it of measures taken since 2007 to guarantee the proper application of the Convention in law and practice.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2014.]