Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Protection against Accidents (Dockers) Convention (Revised), 1932 (No. 32) - Algeria (Ratification: 1962)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report of 2011 contains no new information and is virtually identical with the one which was sent in 2008. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

Repetition

Articles 12, 13 and 15 of the Convention. Application of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government report does not contain any reply to the Committee’s comments despite its repeated requests over a number of years and that the Government still does not appear to have taken the necessary steps to adopt the legislative text concerning ports and dockers pursuant to Act No. 88-07 as planned. However, the Committee notes the Government’s efforts to improve the situation relating to occupational safety and health by ratifying the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155). It notes that this Convention applies to all branches of economic activity, including dock enterprises and dockworkers, and that it therefore constitutes a general context for the application of Convention No. 32. However, the Government continues to be bound by its obligation to adopt specific legislative provisions giving full effect to the provisions of Convention No. 32. The Committee requests the Government once again to take the necessary steps in the very near future to give full effect, in law and in practice, to the provisions of the present Convention, particularly Articles 12, 13 and 15, and to send copies of all relevant legislative texts once they have been adopted.

Part V of the report form. Application in practice. Article 17(2). Labour inspection. The Committee notes the lack of information concerning the application in practice of the Convention. With specific reference to the provisions of Article 17(2) of the Convention, the Committee requests the Government to send its general observations on the manner in which the Convention is applied, including, for example, extracts of the reports of the inspection services, up-to-date statistical information on the number of inspection visits carried out, the number of infringements reported and also the number, nature and causes of accidents recorded, etc.

The Committee takes this opportunity to remind the Government that the ILO Governing Body invited the States parties to Convention No. 32 to envisage ratifying the Occupational Safety and Health (Dock Work) Convention, 1979 (No. 152), which revises Convention No. 32 (GB.268/LILS/5(Rev.1), paragraphs 99–101). Ratification of Convention No. 152 would entail ipso jure the immediate denunciation of Convention No. 32. The Committee would also like to draw the Government’s attention to the code of practice recently adopted by the ILO entitled Safety and health in ports (Geneva, 2005), which is available, inter alia, on the ILO website: www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/safework/cops/english/ index.htm. The Government is requested to keep the Office informed of all progress made in this field.

The Committee wishes to invite the Government to request ILO assistance with the view to the effective application of the Convention. The Committee hopes that such technical assistance can be carried out and asks the Government to provide information on any steps taken in this respect with the relevant ILO bodies.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2012.]