In the Central African Republic, worker health and safety within workplaces are ensured through a basic legal framework. The Constitution of the Central African Republic (2016) and the Labor Code of the Central African Republic (Law No. 04.022, 2009) are the key sources of legislation. The Constitution guarantees all citizens the right to work in a healthy environment and establishes the principle of equality before the law in employment matters. The Labor Code is the primary legislation governing occupational health and safety, outlining employer obligations, workers' rights, and the establishment of health and safety committees in workplaces.

Order No. 06/MTFPSE of January 11, 1999 supplements the Labor Code, establishing specific requirements for the prevention and control of occupational risks. These include provisions regarding workplace design and layout, use of hazardous substances, personal protective equipment, electrical safety, and fire safety.

Key Institutions

The Ministry of Labor, Employment, Public Service, and Social Welfare is responsible for overall policy development and enforcement of labor laws, including occupational health and safety regulations. The Labor Inspectorate enforces health and safety legislation, with powers to enter workplaces without prior notice, conduct inspections, investigations, and require information as needed, and issue improvement notices or fines for non-compliance. The National Institute of Social Security (Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale - CNSS) also plays a role in the prevention of occupational risks, providing advice and support to employers and workers.

Challenges and Limitations

The CAR faces significant challenges in effectively implementing and enforcing health and safety laws. These include weak enforcement capacity due to the Labor Inspectorate being often understaffed and under-resourced, a large informal economy where health and safety protections are often minimal or nonexistent, and ongoing conflict and political instability that have disrupted economic activity and weakened the government's capacity to effectively regulate and enforce laws.

Priorities for Improvement

Improvement priorities include strengthening enforcement by providing the Labor Inspectorate and CNSS with greater resources and support, expanding coverage to extend health and safety protections to workers in the informal sector, raising awareness among both employers and workers on health and safety rights and obligations, and promoting collaboration between government, employers, and worker organizations to improve health and safety.

In the Central African Republic (CAR), basic health and safety standards and practices are established within its legal framework. These standards translate into practices in the workplace, with employers holding the primary responsibility for ensuring a safe and healthy work environment according to the Labor Code (Law No. 04.022, 2009) (Articles 104-119).

Employer Obligations

Employers in the CAR are required to identify potential hazards in the workplace and implement measures to prevent accidents and occupational illnesses. They must also provide workers with information and training on health and safety risks associated with their jobs and safe work practices. Furthermore, employers are obligated to furnish workers with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) where necessary.

Workplace Safety Standards

Specific safety standards for various aspects of the workplace environment are elaborated in Order No. 06/MTFPSE. These include ensuring adequate space, ventilation, and lighting to prevent accidents and promote worker well-being. Measures to control exposure to hazardous substances, including proper storage, labeling, and handling procedures, are also required. Regulations exist to ensure the safe use and maintenance of electrical equipment to prevent electrical hazards. Employers are also required to have fire safety measures in place, such as fire extinguishers and evacuation plans.

Worker Participation

Workers are granted certain rights regarding health and safety under the Labor Code (Articles 120-122). These include the right to refuse work that they believe presents a serious danger to their health or safety, and the right to be informed about health and safety risks and to participate in consultations on health and safety matters.

Health and Safety Committees

The Labor Code mandates the establishment of health and safety committees in workplaces with a certain number of employees. These committees play a crucial role in identifying workplace hazards, developing and implementing safety procedures, and monitoring compliance with health and safety regulations.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite the existence of health and safety standards, significant challenges hinder their effective implementation in the CAR. The Labor Inspectorate lacks sufficient resources to conduct regular inspections and enforce compliance. Additionally, many workers are part of the informal sector where health and safety measures are often non-existent.

In the Central African Republic (CAR), the Labor Inspectorate, a unit within the Ministry of Labor, Employment, Public Service, and Social Welfare, is responsible for ensuring workplace health and safety through workplace inspections. This process involves a series of procedures, criteria, and follow-up actions.

Inspection Procedures

The Labor Code (Law No. 04.022, 2009) provides the general framework for workplace inspections (Articles 142-148). The key steps include:

• Initiating Inspections: Inspections can be initiated by complaints from workers, unions, or during routine inspections planned by the Labor Inspectorate.
• Inspection Conduct: Labor Inspectors have the authority to enter workplaces without prior notice (Article 143). During the inspection, they can review workplace documentation related to health and safety practices, conduct interviews with employers and workers, and examine the physical work environment for potential hazards (Article 144).

Inspection Criteria

The primary focus of the inspectors is to verify compliance with the Labor Code and Order No. 06/MTFPSE of January 11, 1999. This includes ensuring employers are fulfilling their obligations regarding risk assessment, information and training for workers, and provision of personal protective equipment (Articles 104-119). They also assess compliance with specific safety standards outlined in the Order, such as workplace layout, hazardous substance management, and fire safety protocols.

Frequency of Inspections

The Labor Code does not explicitly define a set frequency for inspections. However, resource constraints within the Labor Inspectorate likely limit the number of routine inspections conducted.

Follow-up Actions

Based on the inspection findings, the Labor Inspectorate can take various actions:

• Issuing Improvement Notices: If violations are identified, inspectors can issue notices requiring employers to take corrective actions within a specified timeframe (Article 145).
• Fines for Non-Compliance: In cases of serious violations or failure to comply with improvement notices, inspectors can impose fines (Article 147).
• Work Stoppage Orders: In situations where there's imminent danger to worker safety, inspectors have the authority to order a temporary halt to operations (Article 146).

Challenges and Limitations

The effectiveness of workplace inspections in the CAR faces significant challenges. The Labor Inspectorate lacks adequate manpower and resources to conduct frequent and comprehensive inspections throughout the country. Additionally, a large portion of the workforce operates in the informal sector, which falls outside the scope of regular inspections.

In the Central African Republic (CAR), a basic framework for handling workplace accidents has been established, although it faces several challenges. The Labor Code (Law No. 04.022, 2009) outlines the employer's responsibility to report workplace accidents.

Reporting Requirements

Employers are required to promptly report any workplace accident that results in death, serious injury, or requires the worker to miss more than three days of work to the nearest social security office. The report should include details of the accident, the injured worker(s), and any witnesses.

Accident Investigation

After the report, an investigation into the cause of the accident usually takes place. Employers are expected to conduct an initial investigation to identify the cause of the accident and take steps to prevent similar occurrences. For serious accidents, the social security office or judicial authorities may get involved in the investigation process.

Worker Compensation

The CAR's social security system, managed by the National Institute of Social Security (Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale - CNSS), plays a central role in worker compensation for workplace accidents and occupational illnesses. Workers who are registered with the CNSS and experience a work-related accident or illness are entitled to receive social security benefits. Benefits may include coverage for medical expenses, temporary or permanent disability payments, and survivor's benefits in case of a work-related fatality.

Challenges and Limitations

The current system faces limitations. Many workers operate in the informal sector and are not covered by social security, leaving them without access to compensation mechanisms. Enforcing employer compliance with reporting and compensation requirements can be challenging due to resource constraints.