Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985 (No. 161) - Czechia (Ratification: 1993)

Further to its observation, the Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s latest report, including references to the availability of legislation online, and recent amendments to legislation concerning the application of the Convention, including the repeal, and replacing of Act No. 65/1965 Coll., Labour Code, by Act No. 262/2006 Coll., Labour Code, which came into effect on 1 January 2007; the amending of Act No. 258/2005 Coll., on public health protection, by Act No. 392/2005 Coll.; the repeal, and replacing of Government Regulation No. 178/2001 Coll., by the Government Regulation No. 361/2007 Coll., stipulating conditions of occupational health protection; and the adoption of a new Government Regulation No. 31/2010 Coll., on specialized education branches and professional specifications for health workers with special qualifications and Decree No. 185/2009 Coll., on specialization areas in the education of physicians, dentists, and pharmacists, and on the study areas of certified courses. The Committee further notes the information provided on the measures taken to ensure occupational health services fulfil their functions according to the requirements under Article 5 of the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on relevant measures undertaken with regard to the Convention.

Article 5(g) and (h). Adaptation of work and vocational rehabilitation. The Committee notes that the Government has not provided a specific response to the comments previously raised by the Committee under this Article. The Committee therefore reiterates its request that the Government indicate the measures taken or envisaged, in law and in practice, to ensure that occupational health services promote the adaptation of work to the worker, in accordance with Article 5(g); and contribute to measures of vocational rehabilitation, outside of the measures taken regarding handicapped persons, in accordance with Article 5(h).

Part VI of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government indicating that public health protection authorities continuously carry out supervision of occupational preventive health-care and that occupational health-care services have improved and the relevant trend remains positive. The Government indicates that according to supervisory findings in 2009, full occupational preventive health care services were provided for 65 per cent of employers, while a total lack of occupational preventive health-care was only recorded for 2 per cent of employers, compared to 2.5 per cent in 2008. The Committee notes the information that improvements in occupational health-care services have also been supported by the creation of numerous private health-care facilities providing occupational health-care within an extent corresponding to the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the application of the Convention in practice.