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C017 - Workmen's Compensation (Accidents) Convention,

1925 (No. 17)

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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

Seventh Session on 19 May 1925, and

Having decided upon the adoption of certain proposals with regard to workmen's compensation for accidents,

which is included in the first item of the agenda of the Session, and

Having determined that these proposals shall take the form of an international Convention,

adopts this tenth day of June of the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-five the following Convention,

which may be cited as the Workmen's Compensation (Accidents) Convention, 1925, for ratification by the Members

of the International Labour Organisation in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the International

Labour Organisation:

Article 1

Each Member of the International Labour Organisation which ratifies this Convention undertakes to ensure that

workmen who suffer personal injury due to an industrial accident, or their dependants, shall be compensated on terms

at least equal to those provided by this Convention.

Article 2

1. The laws and regulations as to workmen's compensation shall apply to workmen, employees and apprentices

employed by any enterprise, undertaking or establishment of whatsoever nature, whether public or private.

2. It shall nevertheless be open to any Member to make such exceptions in its national legislation as it deems necessary

in respect of--

(a) persons whose employment is of a casual nature and who are employed otherwise than for the purpose of the

employer's trade or business;

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(b) out-workers;

(c) members of the employer's family who work exclusively on his behalf and who live in his house;

(d) non-manual workers whose remuneration exceeds a limit to be determined by national laws or regulations.

Article 3

This Convention shall not apply to--

(1) seamen and fishermen for whom provision shall be made by a later Convention;

(2) persons covered by some special scheme, the terms of which are not less favourable than those of this

Convention.

Article 4

This Convention shall not apply to agriculture, in respect of which the Convention concerning workmen's compensation

in agriculture adopted by the International Labour Conference at its Third Session remains in force.

Article 5

The compensation payable to the injured workman, or his dependants, where permanent incapacity or death results

from the injury, shall be paid in the form of periodical payments; provided that it may be wholly or partially paid in a

lump sum, if the competent authority is satisfied that it will be properly utilised.

Article 6

In case of incapacity, compensation shall be paid not later than as from the fifth day after the accident, whether it be

payable by the employer, the accident insurance institution, or the sickness insurance institution concerned.

Article 7

In cases where the injury results in incapacity of such a nature that the injured workman must have the constant help of

another person, additional compensation shall be provided.

Article 8

The national laws or regulations shall prescribe such measures of supervision and methods of review as are deemed

necessary.

Article 9

Injured workmen shall be entitled to medical aid and to such surgical and pharmaceutical aid as is recognised to be

necessary in consequence of accidents. The cost of such aid shall be defrayed either by the employer, by accident

insurance institutions, or by sickness or invalidity insurance institutions.

Article 10

1. Injured workmen shall be entitled to the supply and normal renewal, by the employer or insurer, of such artificial

limbs and surgical appliances as are recognised to be necessary: provided that national laws or regulations may allow in

exceptional circumstances the supply and renewal of such artificial limbs and appliances to be replaced by the award to

the injured workman of a sum representing the probable cost of the supply and renewal of such appliances, this sum to

be decided at the time when the amount of compensation is settled or revised.

2. National laws or regulations shall provide for such supervisory measures as are necessary, either to prevent abuses in

connection with the renewal of appliances, or to ensure that the additional compensation is utilised for this purpose.

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Article 11

The national laws or regulations shall make such provision as, having regard to national circumstances, is deemed most

suitable for ensuring in all circumstances, in the event of the insolvency of the employer or insurer, the payment of

compensation to workmen who suffer personal injury due to industrial accidents, or, in case of death, to their

dependants.

Article 12

The formal ratifications of this Convention, under the conditions set forth in the Constitution of the International

Labour Organisation, shall be communicated to the Director-General of the International Labour Office for registration.

Article 13

1. This Convention shall come into force at the date on which the ratifications of two Members of the International

Labour Organisation have been registered by the Director-General.

2. It shall be binding only upon those Members whose ratifications have been registered with the International Labour

Office.

3. Thereafter, the Convention shall come into force for any Member at the date on which its ratification has been

registered with the International Labour Office.

Article 14

As soon as the ratifications of two Members of the International Labour Organisation have been registered with the

International Labour Office, the Director-General of the International Labour Office shall so notify all the Members of

the International Labour Organisation. He shall likewise notify them of the registration of ratifications which may be

communicated subsequently by other Members of the Organisation.

Article 15

Subject to the provisions of Article 13, each Member which ratifies this Convention agrees to bring the provisions of

Articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 into operation not later than 1 January 1927 and to take such action as may be

necessary to make these provisions effective.

Article 16

Each Member of the International Labour Organisation which ratifies this Convention engages to apply it to its

colonies, possessions and protectorates, in accordance with the provisions of Article 35 of the Constitution of the

International Labour Organisation.

Article 17

A Member which has ratified this Convention may denounce it after the expiration of five years from the date on which

the Convention first comes into force, by an act communicated to the Director-General of the International Labour

Office for registration. Such denunciation shall not take effect until one year after the date on which it is registered with

the International Labour Office.

Article 18

At such times as it may consider necessary the Governing Body of the International Labour Office shall present to the

General Conference a report on the working of this Convention and shall examine the desirability of placing on the

agenda of the Conference the question of its revision in whole or in part.

Article 19

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The French and English texts of this Convention shall both be authentic.

See related

Constitution

Constitution Article 35

Key Information

Convention concerning Workmen's Compensation for Accidents (Entry into force: 01 Apr

1927)

Adoption: Geneva, 7th ILC session (10 Jun 1925)

Status: Outdated instrument (Technical Convention).

Convention currently open for denunciation

See further:

Report of the second meeting of the SRM TWG

Governing Body discussion and decision

See also

Ratifications by country

Submissions to competent authorities by country

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