The issue of workplace safety in agriculture is addressed by several conventions, recommendations and codes of practice established by the International Labour Of-fice. E.g., the Chemicals Convention (ILO 1990) provides that employers shall assess the risks arising from the use of chemicals at work and shall protect workers against risks by appropriate measures, such as the choice of chemicals and practices that eliminate or minimise the risk through engineering controls and occupational hygiene. These instruments refer to national policy and legislation on occupational safety and health of countries that have signed or ratified them. Possibly the most important ILO convention in this area is the Occupational Safety and Health Convention (ILO 1981). The Convention Concerning Safety and Health in Agriculture provides that 'measures shall be taken to ensure that temporary and seasonal workers receive the same safety and health protection as that accorded to comparable permanent workers in agriculture' (ILO 2001). However, migrant workers are often unable to benefit from health insurance and frequently do not seek any medical treatment as they cannot afford it, cannot leave work or distances are too great (ILO 2004). Several conven-tions and recommendations of the ILO relevant to agriculture are listed below.

International Labour Office (ILO), Towards a fair deal for migrant workers in the global economy, International Labour Conference, 92nd session, report VI, Geneva 2004

International Labour Office, Protocol to the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981, Proto-col 2002, Geneva 2002a

International Labour Office, Recommendation Concerning the List of Occupational Diseases and the Recording and Notification of Occupational Accidents and Diseases, Geneva 2002b

International Labour Office, Convention Concerning Safety and Health in Agriculture, C 184, Geneva 2001

International Labour Office, Recommendation Concerning Safety and Health in Agriculture, R192, Geneva 2001

International Labour Office, Safety and health in agriculture, International Labour Conference, 88th session, report VI(1), Geneva 2000

International Labour Office, Chemicals Convention, C 170, Geneva 1990

International Labour Office, Chemicals Recommendation, R 177, Geneva 1990

International Labour Office, Occupational Safety and Health Convention, C 155, Geneva 1981

International Labour Office, Occupational Safety and Health Recommendation, R 164, Geneva 1981

International Labour Office, Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, C 129, Geneva 1969

International Labour Office, Plantations Convention, C 110, Geneva 1958