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

Montenegro

Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) (Ratification: 2006)
Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) (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 155 (OSH) and 187 (promotional framework for OSH) together.

Application of Conventions Nos 155 and 187 in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its reports, including statistics for the year 2024 regarding the number of inspections carried out (1,915), irregularities identified (3,236), misdemeanour orders (630, with corresponding fines amounting to a total of €278,740.00), warnings issued (761), decisions taken by inspectors (99 of which 55 concerned the elimination of irregularities, and 25 imposed temporary bans on work due to immediate threats to life and health or failure to implement occupational safety measures), and workplace injury investigations (16, including 4 fatal accidents and 12 serious injuries). With regard to the most common causes of workplace injuries, the Committee notes that the Government refers to failure to implement OSH measures, engagement of untrained personnel for tasks requiring safety training and prior health assessments, outdated work equipment, and use of such equipment without prior inspection or certification by authorized occupational health and safety organizations. The Committee notes that the number of occupational injuries has been increasing since 2020. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the application of Conventions Nos 155 and 187 in practice. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide further information on the measures taken or envisaged with a view to reducing the number of occupational injuries, as well as on the impact of such measures.

General provisions

National system

Article 11(c) and (e) of Convention No. 155 and Article 4(3)(f) of Convention No. 187. Procedures for collection and analysis of data. Production of annual statistics and annual publication of information on occupational accidents and diseases. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that there is currently no institution responsible for verifying occupational diseases and that the greatest challenge is related to the lack of doctors specialized in occupational medicine. The Committee also notes that, the Ministry of Health plans to establish an office composed of three occupational medicine specialists, that will be tasked to initiate reforms in the field of occupational medicine, in cooperation with existing members of the inter-institutional Working Group for the Health Protection of Employees, established by the Ministry of Health. Furthermore, the Committee notes that: (i) a road map has been prepared with short-term, medium-term and long-term priorities for the work of this office; (ii) the office is expected to begin operations by September 2025; and (iii) the updating of the Rulebook on the content and procedures for reporting workplace injuries and diseases is among the short-term priority as well as the updating of existing occupational medicine contracts with employers. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken in order to improve the establishment and application of procedures for the notification of occupational diseases and the publication of information on the number of occupational diseases reported. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the status of implementation of the road map.

National Programme

Article 5 of Convention No. 187. National OSH Programme. The Committee notes that the new Strategy for the Improvement of Occupational Safety and Health 2022–2027 follows the model of the European Strategy for the Improvement of Health and Safety at Work 2021–27. In this context, the Committee also notes the Government’s indication that: (i) the annual report on the implementation of the Action Plan for the improvement of OSH for 2023, along with the 2024 Action Plan of the Strategy for 2024, were adopted in May 2024; (ii) the 2025 annual report and action plan have been submitted for review to the Ministry of Finance and the General Secretariat of the Government; and (iii) the reports on the implementation of the annual action plans provide an overview of the activities carried out. The Committee notes that the Strategy for 2022–2027 and the Action Plan for 2023 are published on the Government’s website. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the measures outlined in the 2025 and subsequent Action Plans for the implementation of the Strategy and to provide information on the consultations held with the most representative organizations of employers and workers in the formulation implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Strategy and Action Plans.

In addition, the Committee recalls the pending comments regarding the technical OSH Conventions ratified (the White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13), the Underground Work (Women) Convention, 1935 (No. 45), the Guarding of Machinery Convention, 1963 (No. 119), the Occupational Cancer Convention, 1974 (No. 139), the Working Environment (Air Pollution, Noise and Vibration) Convention, 1977 (No. 148), the Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161), the Asbestos Convention, 1986 (No. 162), the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167)), adopted by the Committee in 2021, for which the Government will be requested to reply in accordance with the reporting cycle.