Action at the national level

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10. Action at the national level

10.1. Government action

10.1.1. A technology-receiving country should develop the necessary

occupational safety and health infrastructure to deal adequately with all the problems

related to safety and health and working conditions involved in technology transfers.

10.1.1.1. Developing countries should use existing national standards

institutions to assist in aspects of the transfer of technology related to safety and health

and working conditions, or should set up a national standards body for the purpose.

10.1.1.2. There should be effective means of enforcing legislation, including

sufficient manpower and expertise.

10.1.1.3. The laws and regulations in the developing countries should make

provisions for the use of safety and health monitoring equipment and strategies that are

simple, practicable and not necessarily expensive.

10.1.2. Governments should develop the necessary capability to choose

technology in such a manner as to ensure proper safety and health provisions and

working conditions for the workers.

10.1.3. Inducements offered by governments to attract investment in

technologies should not compromise, directly or indirectly, the safety and health and

working conditions of the workers and the general public.

10.1.4. National negotiators for the transfer of technology should have received

the necessary training in the requirements of safety and health and working conditions

in order to ensure the inclusion of these matters in the technology transfer process.

10.1.5. Where policies for the progressive take-over of foreign enterprises by

national interests are adopted by the national authorities, care should be taken to ensure

that the resulting mixed or national enterprises have the full background knowledge,

information, experience and competence, including staff skills, to deal with safety and

health and working conditions aspects, as well as the ability to handle all emergencies.

10.1.6. ILO member States should be guided by international labour

Conventions and Recommendations, in particular the Occupational Safety and Health

Convention, 1981 (No. 155), in the implementation of measures to deal with the

adverse safety and health effects of the transfer of technology.

10.2. Other measures

10.2.1. Consultancy services should be promoted to provide assistance within

developing countries in order to –

(a) facilitate the adaptation of the borrowed technology to local conditions and its

implementation, with due regard for the skilled personnel, raw materials and

industrial infrastructure available;

(b) help in the establishment of competent research facilities, which should be

suitably linked with research-based and specialised institutions in industrialised

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