Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161) - Brazil (Ratification: 1990)

1. Further to its observation, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its latest report including a reply to its previous direct request.

2. Article 15 of the Convention. Information to give to occupational health services about illnesses among workers and relationship between illness and health hazards present at the workplace. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that, through the Single Health System and within the system of state and local health centres with specialist staff, the Ministry of Health is responsible for studying the relationship between health and work. The Committee notes, however, that the Government does not clarify how and on what basis the occupational health services (SESMT) are notified of occupational accidents and diseases of workers. The Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to give effect to this Article of the Convention.

3. Part VI of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice and Article 3, paragraphs 1–2. Progressive development of occupational health services for all workers, in all sectors and in all branches of economic activity. With reference to its previous comments the Committee notes from the Government’s report that the Ministry of Health, through the Single Health System, is responsible for undertaking the initiative to expand occupational health services to cover larger numbers of the working population and that this issue was being discussed in a permanent tripartite commission. The Committee also notes that the Government indicates there was no reliable data on the number of specialist services created as a result of the application of the provisions of the integrated system of labour risks prevention, due to changes in the number of companies, the number of employees in each and, especially, the vast size of Brazil. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that available data concerns formal employment in Brazil, which represents some 21 million workers, and not the economically active population, estimated at 70 million workers. It also notes the statement that, based on a general census of workers in 2000, the total number of jobs in companies required to set up SESMTs amounted to 7,211,016 and that some 0.86 per cent of the total number of establishments were required to set up SESMTs while some 93.1 per cent of the total number of establishments were not required to do so. The Committee requests the Government to pursue its efforts progressively to increase the number of workers covered by occupational health services, to continue to report on any concrete measures taken in this respect, as well as any practical results obtained.