Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Saudi Arabia (Ratification: 1978)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and the information provided in reply to its previous comments. It also notes the annual report on the activities of the labour inspectorate for 1999-2000.

1. Statistics on cases of occupational disease. With reference to its previous observation and the Government’s previous indication that the compilation of statistics of cases of occupational disease comes up against the dual difficulty of the migratory nature of the active population and the fact that the symptoms of occupational diseases generally appear after a period of time, the Committee notes that the measures taken by the general authority competent in the field of social security, in relation to the authorities of the countries of origin of workers to obtain relevant information, have not been effective. However, it notes that a classification of occupational diseases has been established and approved by Decision No. 877 of the Council of Ministers of 21 Dhul Qida 1389 in compliance with the guidance provided by international labour Conventions and the labour legislation applicable in neighbouring Arab countries. According to the information contained in the annual report which was transmitted, the labour inspectorate is responsible for supervising the application of provisions relating to various matters, including occupational diseases, to seek out the causes, develop preventive measures and initiate studies, particularly on exposure to occupational risks. The Committee hopes that the Government will continue to make efforts to cooperate with countries in the region which are encountering the same difficulties in compiling information on cases of occupational disease with a view to envisaging the development of an appropriate prevention policy concerning the exercise of occupational activities involving risk. The Government is also requested in any case to provide information on the application in practice of the decision concerning the classification of occupational diseases referred to above.

2. Labour inspection and child labour. In response to its general observation of 1999, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that child labour does not exist in the country, but that it is nevertheless envisaged to request labour inspectors to give priority to measures to combat child labour and that relevant information will be included in the annual report prepared by the central inspection authority. Noting in this respect that the labour inspectorate is responsible, among other matters, for supervising the application of legal provisions concerning the employment of young persons, and recalling that child labour may take hidden forms, outside legally registered workplaces that are liable to inspection, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report the legal powers and means of action available to labour inspectors, on the one hand, to exercise effective supervision in this respect and, on the other hand, to submit to the competent authority proposals for the improvement of the legislation (Article 3, paragraph 1(c)).

The Committee is addressing a request directly to the Government.