Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) - Iceland (Ratification: 2018)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

The Committee notes the Government’s first report.

Article 2(3) of the Convention. Measures that could be taken, in consultation with social partners, to ratify relevant OSH Conventions. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour operates a special consultative committee comprising of representatives of the Icelandic Confederation of Labour and the Confederation of Icelandic Employers, and a representative from the Ministry. The Icelandic Tripartite ILO Committee is responsible for monitoring the implementation by the Government of the ILO Conventions that have been ratified and for assessing whether further Conventions could be ratified. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether specific consideration has been given to the respective OSH Conventions of the ILO and to provide information on the outcome of the consultations held with the social partners in this respect.

Article 3. National OSH policy. Considering that Iceland has ratified the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), the Committee refers to its comments adopted under Convention No. 155.

Article 4(1). Periodical review of a national OSH system in consultation with the social partners. The Committee notes the periodic amendments to the Act on Working Environment, most recently in 2018. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that since 2020 a task force, comprised of representatives of the organizations of the social partners has been working at the Administration of Occupation Safety and Health (AOSH) to address environmental risk factors, aiming at raising awareness of the importance of preventive measures to avoid injuries and encouraging risk assessment and the adoption of effective preventive measures. Furthermore, the AOSH has a pilot group and a consultative committee with a tripartite board working on safety and health issues, aiming to ensure that developments on the domestic labour market are followed closely. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the measures taken to periodically review the national OSH system, including institutional arrangements for this review, and on the outcome of the consultations held with the social partners in this regard.The Committee requests the Government to provide information regarding the work of the task force on environmental risk factors, as well as the work of the pilot group and the consultative committee working on safety and health issues.

Article 4(3)(h). Support mechanisms for progressive improvement of OSH conditions in micro-enterprises, SMEs and in the informal economy.The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the existing or envisaged support mechanisms for progressively improving occupational safety and health conditions in micro-enterprises, in small and medium-sized enterprises and in the informal economy.

Article 5(1) and (2)(d). National OSH Programme. Objectives, targets and indicators of progress. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the AOSH adopted a Strategy for 2019 until 2023, and it notes the subsequent adoption of a new Strategy for the period 2022-2028. The Committee notes that the Government provides no information on any indicators of progress or measurable targets for the Strategy of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 2019-2023 and for 2022-2028. The Committee recalls that in its 2017 General Survey, Working together to promote a safe and healthy working environment, paragraphs 147–153, it stressed the importance of evaluating the past performance of national OSH programmes using a methodology based on clear targets and indicators of progress. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of the Strategy of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 2022-2028, including the activities carried out and the results achieved within its framework.It requests the Government to provide information on the consultations undertaken with the most representative organizations of employers and workers in the Strategy’s formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Lastly, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the targets or indicators of progress in the Strategy of the Occupational and Safety and Health Administration for 2022-2028 that make it possible to evaluate to what extent the objectives of the Strategy are being achieved, in line with Article 5(2)(d) of the Convention.

Article 5(2)(e). Complementary national programmes. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any programmes or plans complementary to the Strategy of the Occupational and Safety and Health Administration that assist in achieving progressively a safe and healthy working environment.

Article 5(3). Publicizing the national programme. The Committee notes that the Strategy of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration 2022-2028 is published in the Government’s website. However, the Government does not provide information as to how the national programme is widely publicised. The Committee requests the Government to provide information regarding the manner in which the Government ensures that its national programme is widely publicized, in accordance with Article 5(3) of the Convention.