R102 - Welfare Facilities Recommendation, 1956 (No. 102)

• Subject Matter: Seguridad y salud en el trabajo,Occupational safety and health,Sécurité et santé au travail
• Court: International Labour Organization

Preamble

The General Conference of the International Labour Organisation,

Having been convened at Geneva by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, and having met in its Thirty-ninth Session on 6 June 1956, and

Having decided upon the adoption of certain proposals with regard to welfare facilities for workers, which is the fifth item on the agenda of the session, and

Having determined that these proposals shall take the form of a Recommendation,

adopts this twenty-sixth day of June of the year one thousand nine hundred and fifty-six, the following Recommendation, which may be cited as the Welfare Facilities Recommendation, 1956:

Whereas it is desirable to define certain principles and establish certain standards concerning the following welfare facilities for workers:

• (a) feeding facilities in or near the undertaking;
• (b) rest facilities in or near the undertaking and recreation facilities excluding holiday facilities; and
• (c) transportation facilities to and from work where ordinary public transport is inadequate or impracticable,

The Conference recommends that the following provisions should be applied as fully and as rapidly as national conditions allow, by voluntary, governmental or other appropriate action, and that each Member should report to the International Labour Office as requested by the Governing Body concerning the measures taken to give effect thereto.

I. Scope

1. 1. This Recommendation applies to manual and non-manual workers employed in public or private undertakings, excluding workers in agriculture and sea transport.
2. 2. In any case in which it is doubtful whether an undertaking is one to which this Recommendation applies, the question should be settled either by the competent authority after consultation with the organisations of employers and workers concerned, or in accordance with the law or practice of the country.

II. Methods of Implementation

1. 3. Having regard to the variety of welfare facilities and of national practices in making provision for them, the facilities specified in this Recommendation may be provided by means of public or voluntary action--
   • (a) through laws and regulations, or
   • (b) in any other manner approved by the competent authority after consultation with employers' and workers' organisations, or
   • (c) by virtue of collective agreement or as otherwise agreed upon by the employers and workers concerned.

III. Feeding Facilities

A. Canteens

1. 4. Canteens providing appropriate meals should be set up and operated in or near undertakings where this is desirable, having regard to the number of workers employed by the undertaking, the demand for and prospective use of the facilities, the non-availability of other appropriate facilities for obtaining meals and any other relevant conditions and circumstances.
2. 5. If canteens are provided by virtue of national laws or regulations, the competent authority should be empowered to require the setting up and operation of canteens in or near undertakings where more than a specified minimum number of workers is employed or where this is desirable for any other reason determined by the competent authority.
3. 6. If canteens are the responsibility of works committees established by national laws or regulations, this responsibility should be exercised in undertakings where the setting up and operation of such canteens are desirable.
4. 7. If canteens are provided by virtue of collective agreement or in any other manner except as indicated in Paragraphs 5 and 6, the arrangements so arrived at should apply to undertakings where this is desirable for any reason as determined by agreement between the employers and workers concerned.
5. 8. The competent authority or some other appropriate body should make suitable arrangements to give information, advice and guidance to individual undertakings with respect to technical questions involved in the setting up and operation of canteens.
6. 9
   • (1) Where adequate publications are not already in existence, the competent authority or some other appropriate body should prepare and publish detailed information, suggestions and guidance, adapted to the special conditions in the country concerned, on methods of setting up and operating canteens.
   • (2) Such information should include suggestions on--
     • (a) location of the canteens in relation to the various buildings or departments of the undertakings concerned;
     • (b) establishment of joint canteens for several undertakings in so...