Occupational Safety and Health

Belgium ratifies the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187)

News | 05 June 2018
On 31 May 2018, the Government of Belgium has deposited the instrument of ratification of the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187).

When depositing the instrument of ratification, Mr Kris Peeters, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Employment, the Economy and Consumers, said that: “Belgium is very happy today to be able to deposit the instrument of ratification of Convention No. 187. This ratification bears witness to our commitment to promote the development of a preventive culture in the field of safety and health and to improve occupational safety and health in a continuous and sustainable manner in consultation with the social partners. Convention No. 187 is an extension of the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), which has also been ratified by Belgium. At the national level, Belgium has adopted a “Belgian National Strategy for Well-being at Work 2016-2020”. This Strategy sets the context for the policy of the Federal Public Service on employment, labour and social dialogue of the Ministry of Employment and all the stakeholders concerned by the policy of well-being in enterprises. It sets out a number of strategic and operational objectives for the years to come and identifies the action to be taken for their achievement. It implements the European Union Occupational Safety and Health Strategic Framework 2014-2020. The ratification of Convention No. 187 is also one of the commitments made by Belgium within the framework of its National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. Through this new ratification, we are also reaffirming the deep-rooted commitment of Belgium to the ILO standards system and to the effective application of international labour standards to ensure a just future of work.”

When receiving the instrument of ratification, Mr Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Office (ILO), said that: “I am very happy to be able to count Belgium among the member States which have ratified Convention No. 187, which is one of the essential ILO instruments in the field of occupational safety and health. By ratifying Convention No. 187, Belgium is joining the 43 other member States which have made the formal commitment to improve occupational safety and health in a continuous and sustainable manner with a view to preventing occupational injuries and diseases and deaths attributable to work, in consultation with the social partners.”

According to the ILO’s 2017 estimates, there are 2.78 million deaths a year due to employment injuries and occupational diseases. In addition to its enormous human cost, the lack of occupational safety and health has significant economic consequences, costing an estimated at 3.94 per cent of global GDP each year (or 2,990 billion US dollars), due to lost working time, interrupted production and the cost of treatment, rehabilitation and compensation arising out of occupational injuries and diseases.

Convention No. 187 is one of the three key ILO instruments on occupational safety and health, together with the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), and its Protocol of 2002.

To date, Belgium has ratified 113 international labour Conventions and one Protocol. For further information, see NORMLEX.