On 2 April 2024, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Bulgraia to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Yuri Sterk, deposited with the Director General of the International Labour Organization /ILO/, Gilbert Houngbo, the instruments of ratification by the Republic of Bulgaria of the Occupational Safety and Health Convention No 155 of the ILO, adopted at the 67th session of the International Labour Conference /ILC/ on 22 June 1981 in Geneva, Switzerland, and of the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention No 187 of the ILO, adopted at the 95th session of the ILC on 15 June 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The two Conventions offer a framework for the definition of a national policy aimed at preventing, through the promotion of social dialogue, accidents at work and occupational diseases, as well as creating an increasingly safe and healthy working environment, through a coordinated action by all concerned actors.

A Resolution of the 110^th session of the 2022 ILC in 2022 included Conventions No 155 and 187 among the fundamental ILO Conventions. This historical Resolution elevated the safe and healthy working environment to the rank of the fifth ILO fundamental principle and right at work, along with the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour, the effective abolition of child labour and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

During the deposit ceremony, which took place in an atmosphere of great cordiality, Ambassador Sterk explained that Bulgaria has always been a strong supporter of the inclusion of a safe and healthy working environment in the ILO’s framework of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and confirmed Bulgaria’s readiness to support all the necessary steps to follow up on the historical achievement reached in June 2022. He further added that Bulgaria is among the countries that have ratified the largest number of ILO Conventions. Upon receiving the instruments of ratification, the ILO Director General declared: “Bulgaria has now ratified all 10 fundamental Conventions and is demonstrating its commitment to protecting the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment, and to promoting occupational safety and health in a continuous and sustainable manner, with a view to preventing occupational accidents and diseases.