Mozambique ratifies the ILO Convention and Protocol on Occupational Safety and Health, as well as the ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment

Mozambique is the 10th Southern African Development Community (SADC) Member State to ratify Convention No. 155, and the seventh to ratify Convention No. 190.

26 November 2025

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GENEVA (ILO News) – On 26 November 2025, H.E. Ms Ivete Ferrao Alane, Minister of Labour, Gender and Social Action, deposited the instrument of ratification of the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), the Protocol of 2002 to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981, and the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190), with the Director-General of the ILO, Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo.

In depositing the instruments of ratification, the Minister stated: “The ratification of the three instruments represents a reaffirmation of the commitment of the Government to decent, safe, and healthy work, in accordance with universal principles of social justice and respect for human rights.”

The Director-General of the ILO welcomed the ratifications of those instruments by Mozambique and stated that: “With these ratifications, Mozambique reaffirms its strong commitment to ILO standards and fundamental principles and rights at work and embraces a unique opportunity to shape a future of work that has safe and healthy working environments. It also recognises that everyone has the right to a world of work free from violence and harassment”.

Convention No. 155 provides for the adoption of a coherent national policy on occupational safety and health (OSH), as well as action to be taken by governments and within enterprises to promote OSH. The Convention was declared fundamental by the International Labour Conference of the ILO in June 2022.

The Protocol of 2002 requires Member States to improve the recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases and to promote standardized, harmonized systems for this purpose.

Convention No. 190 protects workers and other persons in the world of work from violence and harassment, and it applies to all sectors, whether private or public, both in the formal and informal economy, and whether in urban or rural areas.

Both Conventions Nos 155 and 190 are amongst the Southern African Development Community (SADC) prioritised instruments. Mozambique is the 10th SADC Member State to ratify the former, and the seventh to ratify the latter.

To date, Mozambique has ratified 22 Conventions and three Protocols. For additional information, please refer to NORMLEX.