Safety and Health in Construction

Deposit by the Plurinational State of Bolivia of the instrument of ratification for the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167)

On 10 February 2015, the Government of the Plurinational State of Bolivia deposited with the International Labour Office the instrument of ratification for the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167).

News | 10 February 2015
The Plurinational State of Bolivia is thus the twenty-sixth ILO member State and the seventh Latin American country to have ratified this Convention, which aims to improve the safety and health of millions of workers worldwide.

In transmitting the instrument of ratification, the Ambassador of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Ms. Angélica Navarro Llanos, declared: “The ratification of ILO Convention No. 167 by Bolivia demonstrates the great commitment of our country, under the leadership of President Evo Morales, to promote and protect labour rights, which has resulted in legislation that actively protects and promotes rights, as well as a substantial wage increase, sustained by an equitable economic model, which considerably improves the lives of Bolivian citizens.”

In receiving the instrument of ratification of Convention No.167, Mr. Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Office stated: "I am very pleased that the Plurinational State of Bolivia is now one of the member States that have ratified Convention No. 167, which is the most recent standards on safety and health in this important sector. Governments, employers and workers have a common interest in promoting safety and health in construction. Preventing occupational diseases and accidents in construction is not only a moral and legal imperative, but also contributes to relieving workers and employers in the country, as well as the Government of a huge burden. Occupational diseases and accidents in construction can be prevented and avoided, and the ratification by the Plurinational State of Bolivia of Convention No. 167 is an important step in this direction”.

Construction is one of the most important industrial sectors in the world, a driving force of national economies and an important source of work. However, this sector is among the most dangerous industries. At least 108,000 workers worldwide are killed on building sites every year, a figure which represents about 30 per cent of all fatal injuries at work. Moreover, subcontracting practices in this sector give rise to the dispersion of responsibilities, employment instability and a lack of training for workers.

The ILO has made tireless efforts to protect the safety and health of construction workers, including through Conventions, Recommendations and Codes of practice. Convention No. 167 and the Safety and Health in Construction Recommendation, 1988 (No. 175), are the most recent and modern instruments on the subject, and establish a clear framework of responsibilities, rights and obligations, both at the national level and at the level of the enterprise. It should be recalled that the ILO has developed comprehensive training materials on safety and health in construction, made available by the Inter-American Centre for Knowledge Development in Vocational Training (CINTERFOR):

http://www.oitcinterfor.org/en/recurso-did%C3%A1ctico/training-package-occupational-safety-and-health-construction-industry

In conformity with the ILO’s commitment to protect the safety and health of construction workers, Convention No. 167 and other Conventions will be the subject of a General Survey in 2016, which will examine the law and practice of all member States (whether or not they have ratified these Conventions), and allow a comprehensive overview of the latest trends in the construction sector.

To see the text of Convention No. 167, please use the following link:

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