Meetings

In May 2006, the ILO will convene a tripartite meeting of experts to develop a revised code of practice on safety and health in underground coal mines. The existing code was adopted in 1985 and much has changed in the coalmining industry, its workforce and in the ILO's approach to OSH since then. Twenty-four experts (including government experts from Australia, China, Germany, India, Poland, Russian Federation, South Africa, United States) will be invited to examine and review a draft and adopt a new code.

The draft will be posted on the Internet in April 2006.

In 2002 the ILO held the Tripartite Meeting on the Evolution of Employment, Working Time and Training in the Mining Industry. The purpose of the meeting was to exchange views on the evolution of employment, working time and training in the mining industry, the social and labour implications of these developments for the parties concerned, and the role of social dialogue in addressing them.

About 100 experts from over 40 countries, representing governments, employers' and workers' organizations met to discuss these issues. The meeting adopted a set of conclusions (pdf, 122k) that, among other things, calls for more research into the relationship between working time and occupational safety and health.

The meeting also adopted two resolutions: the first resolution (pdf, 97k) calls for increased and improved tripartite cooperation in promoting the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development in the mining industry, taking into account the MMSD report "Breaking New Ground". The second resolution (pdf, 79k) calls for support in addressing the environmental, economic, health and social impacts and benefits of mining throughout its life-cycle - including decent work, health and safety.

A report prepared by the International Labour Office was used as the basis for discussion: The evolution of employment, working time and training in the mining industry (pdf, 542k).

The Note on the Proceedings (pdf, 281k) is also available.