Standards to be set

Maternity protection (second discussion)

At its 268th Session (March 1997), the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization decided to put on the agenda of the 87th Session (1999) of the International Labour Conference the revision of the Maternity Protection Convention (Revised), 1952 (No. 103), and Recommendation, 1952 (No. 95).

Maternity protection of women at work has been of core importance to the International Labour Organization since its establishment in 1919. The Maternity Protection Convention, 1919 (No. 3), was among the first instruments to be adopted. In 1952, this Convention was revised to take into consideration developments in national law and practice, especially in the realm of social security. The years since 1952 have similarly seen dramatic changes, notably in the participation of women in the workforce, and an ever growing commitment to eliminate discrimination in employment.

The 1999 International Labour Conference addressed the question of the revision of the Maternity Protection (Revised) Convention, 1952 (No. 103), and Recommendation, 1952 (No. 95), in accordance with the double-discussion procedure set out in article 10 of the Standing Orders of the Governing Body and article 39 of its own Standing Orders. The Committee on Maternity Protection proposed conclusions and a resolution to place on the agenda of the Conference in 2000 an item entitled "Revision of the Maternity Protection Convention (Revised), 1952 (No. 103), and Recommendation, 1952 (No. 95).

Safety and health in Agriculture (first discussion)

At its 271st Session (March 1998), the Governing Body of the International Labour Organization decided to put on the agenda of the 88th Session (2000) of the International Labour Conference the subject of safety and health in agriculture.

It is submitted that there is a need to adopt protective legislation for agricultural workers. Agriculture is one of the most hazardous sectors worldwide, alongside mining and construction. It is also a very complex and heterogeneous sector, involving a number of specific methods which vary from country to country and between developed and developing countries, from highly mechanized agriculture in plantations to traditional methods in small-scale subsistence agriculture. Agriculture tends, however, to be omitted from the occupational safety and health regulations of many countries, apart from a few countries which have a set of special provisions on occupational safety and health relating to agriculture. Most of these regulations concern safety of machinery and equipment and pesticides. Comprehensive legislation on occupational safety and health addressing the sector is almost inexistent, however. Moreover, an important number of agricultural workers are excluded from social security benefits.

Standards containing basic principles of safety and health in agriculture would provide a framework on which national legislation could be based. In contrast with the situation in mining and construction, there is no Convention dealing comprehensively with the safety and health problems of agricultural workers. Safety and health issues in agriculture are partially covered in a multitude of existing standards including, in particular,the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), which covers all sectors of the economy.

The International Labour Conference will address the question of safety and health in agriculture in accordance with the double-discussion procedure set out in article 10 of the Standing Orders of the Governing Body and article 39 of its own Standing Orders. A law and practice report, Safety and health in agriculture, has accordingly been drafted to facilitate the discussion at the conference.