Convention 187 in Mozambique: what changes, what not
ILO Convention 187 in Mozambique: what changes and what doesn't — Mozambique completed all 11 fundamental conventions; transposition into law remains pending.
On June 9, 2026, Mozambique presented to the ILO the instrument of ratification of Convention 187, the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health. It was signed by Minister Ivete Ferrão Alane in Geneva. The country is the 76th to ratify the instrument — and the ILO noted, in the same report, the completion of the cycle: "Mozambique has now ratified all fundamental standards".
Convention 187 is not a new law: it is an international commitment requiring the State to build an OSH policy, legislation, and system. Transposition into Mozambican law remains pending, and workers' rights continue to be governed by Law 13/2023.
In the Inademy Guide, we break down what ratification changes in the system, what does not change on the ground, and what you need to check before signing a contract.
The short answer
- Exact date: 09-06-2026, with Minister Ivete Ferrão Alane; Mozambique is the 76th country to ratify C187.
- It is a framework, not a new law: it obligates the State to establish a national OSH policy; it does not directly create individual rights.
- Transposition is pending: what changes for you depends on the internal legislation that is yet to be passed.
- What applies today is Law 13/2023: Ch. VI (Hygiene, Health, and Safety at Work) obligates the employer regarding OSH; Art. 220(7) requires employer-provided PPE.
- Context, not cause: the Manica mine collapse (13-09-2026) accelerated demand for OSH; the signing preceded the accident.
What is ILO Convention 187
Convention 187, from 2006, is a structural instrument: it outlines what the State must build, not the clauses a worker invokes in court. Article 2 requires each Member to develop, in consultation with representative organizations of employers and workers, a national OSH policy, system, and program, with continuous improvement.
Three practical consequences. First, the State must now have a written national OSH policy. Second, the system must extend to the informal sector — where a large portion of work in Mozambique takes place. Third, it must promote cooperation among employers, workers, and inspection services.
As a framework, Convention 187 does not provide for sanctions on companies. The effect comes through the upcoming internal law, strengthened enforcement, and the hiring environment that changes alongside it. Failing to understand this distinction can be costly: it confuses the framework with the law, leading you to believe you have rights that are not yet in the national legislation.
What the ratification obligates the State to do
The commitment of 09-06-2026 has a concrete scope. The State will have to present OSH policies, update legislation, and improve prevention, investigation, and accident statistics systems. The ILO records this progress country by country — the same mechanism that, in June 2022, elevated C155 to a fundamental convention.
There is one point that almost never appears in news summaries: extension to the informal sector. Street vendors, construction workers, and small-scale miners are the target of the promotional framework.
CTA and the ILO included decent work in construction in the 2026 agenda (press release of 19-08-2026) — construction is the sector featured in that agenda, alongside mining — the sector of the Manica collapse (13-09-2026, MMO Notícias).
In the same press release, the completion of the package is noted: Mozambique concluded the ratification of all 11 Fundamental ILO Conventions — from freedom of association to non-discrimination. In the official ILO count there are 11; the 'ten' in the CTA release counts C187 separately.
OSH C155 and C187 were both elevated to fundamental status in 2022. C190 against violence and harassment, ratified in the package of 26-11-2025, reinforces the group. It is a completed cycle, not an isolated piece.
What doesn't change: transposition is pending
Until transposition is approved, what changes for workers remains unchanged. Individual rights remain governed by Law 13/2023: workplace accident insurance, compensation in severe cases, employer-provided PPE. Convention 187 obligates the State; your company is not its direct target today.
This has a practical consequence. If an accident occurs at a job site tomorrow, the legal basis for compensation is internal law and insurance, not the ILO framework. Ratification accelerates the path; it does not replace the law.
What changes in the system is regulatory pressure: national policy with targets, inspection, accident statistics, informal sector coverage. It is an effect measured by passed legislation and effective enforcement, not signatures. In practice, we are talking about a horizon of 2 to 5 years — an estimate, not a legal deadline; internal legislation will set the timeline.
The context: why this year
Ratification arrived amid serious events. On 13-09-2026, a mine collapse in Manica killed six people (MMO Notícias). We use this fact as context for stronger demand for OSH, not as the cause of ratification — the signing took place on 09-06-2026, months before the accident.
There is another earlier milestone. On 26-11-2025, the same minister deposited with the ILO Director-General the ratification of C155 (Occupational Safety and Health, 1981), the 2002 Protocol, and C190 (Violence and Harassment, 2019). C187 came to complete a package already underway.
The cumulative numbers: Mozambique has ratified 22 conventions and 3 protocols (ILO, as of 26-11-2025). Within SADC, it ranked 10th in C155 and 7th in C190; within CPLP, 6th and 3rd, respectively.
What already applies today: Law 13/2023
The safety protections you already have are in Law 13/2023, in effect since 21-02-2024. Chapter VI (Hygiene, Health, and Safety at Work), Arts. 220 to 239, obligates the employer to guarantee OSH at the workplace. Art. 220(7) makes this clear: personal protective equipment and work clothing are provided by the employer — not the worker.
Three points of law to check in your contract. The employer must inform you about the risks of your workstation and instruct you on compliance with hygiene and safety rules at work (Art. 220(2)).
They must also record workplace accidents and occupational illnesses, and you are entitled to workplace accident insurance and compensation in severe cases.
For the complete list, consult the practical guide to workers' rights; regarding mandatory equipment, occupational safety and health in Mozambique, and what changed in Law 13/2023.
What changes in the medium term in the job market
When transposition occurs, the effect reaches three levels. At the State level: a national OSH policy with targets and accident statistics. At the corporate level: OSH becomes part of hiring and inspection processes, aligned with an international framework. In the job market: OSH roles — technician, engineer, inspector — see higher demand, as prevention systems require trained staff.
For job seekers, there is a clear signal. Job openings with a safety component gain a stronger regulatory foundation, and in construction and mining, OSH skills carry more weight on resumes. If you are looking for a role with this profile, the jobs section is where positions in industry, construction, and operations appear.
How Inademy helps you
Creating a profile is free, applying is straightforward, and PDF CVs are accepted. You receive alerts for new job openings via email and WhatsApp. The Inademy Guide covers workers' rights, workplace accidents, and Law 13/2023 — the same topics brought into public debate by Convention 187.
Sources and references
- ILO (09-06-2026): "Mozambique ratifies Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health". Instrument presented by Minister Ivete Ferrão Alane; Mozambique is the 76th country; "Mozambique has now ratified all fundamental standards". ilo.org/resource/news/mozambique-ratifies-promotional-framework-occupational-safety-and-health.
- ILO in Portuguese (26-11-2025): "Mozambique ratifies the ILO Convention and Protocol on Occupational Safety and Health, as well as the ILO Convention on Violence and Harassment" (C155/C168 and C190).
- MMO Notícias (13-09-2026): "Mine collapse in Manica leaves six dead" — cited as context, not as the cause of ratification.
- CTA (19-08-2026, cta.org.mz): "CTA and ILO strengthen cooperation to promote decent work" — MZ completed the ratification of 10 Fundamental Conventions; 2026 agenda includes decent work in construction.
- Law 13/2023: Official Gazette (Boletim da República) Series I of 25-08-2023, in force 21-02-2024; Ch. VI (Hygiene, Health, and Safety at Work, Arts. 220 to 239), notably Art. 220(7) (Employer-provided PPE).
Frequently asked questions
Is Convention 187 a new labor law in Mozambique?
No. It is an ILO framework convention that obligates the State to build an OSH policy, legislation, and system. It does not directly create individual rights; your rights continue to be governed by Law 13/2023 until transposition is approved.
What changes for workers starting today?
Nothing on the ground while transposition is pending. What changes is the State's obligation to carry out the OSH policy, including extending it to the informal sector. In the short term, the legal basis remains internal law.
Did Mozambique ratify C155 and C190 previously?
Yes. On 26-11-2025, Minister Ivete Ferrão Alane deposited the ratification of C155, the 2002 Protocol, and C190 with the ILO Director-General. C187, on 09-06-2026, closed the cycle of Fundamental Conventions — 11 in the official ILO count, including C187, elevated to fundamental status in 2022; the CTA release mentions ten.
Was the Manica mine collapse the cause of the ratification?
No. The accident on 13-09-2026, which killed six people (MMO Notícias), provides context for stronger demand for OSH in the country. The ratification of C187 took place on 09-06-2026, months before the collapse.
How do I check my OSH rights at the job site?
Under Law 13/2023: Ch. VI (Hygiene, Health, and Safety at Work) obligates the employer regarding OSH, and Art. 220(7) requires PPE to be provided by them. In case of an accident, report the occurrence and claim workplace accident insurance; the workplace accidents guide details the procedure and compensation.
Who enforces compliance: the State or the ILO?
The State, through its labor inspection services. The ILO tracks ratification progress and issues recommendations; actual enforcement is national. That is where transposition will have a concrete impact.
In summary, what to do today
- Keep the dates distinct. C187 on 09-06-2026; C155 and C190 on 26-11-2025. Confusing milestones is a common mistake in these matters.
- Legal basis: Law 13/2023. OSH and PPE are employer obligations (Art. 220(7)); check this in your contract.
- Do not treat C187 as an active law in your contract. Transposition is pending; the impact comes with national legislation.
- Follow the national OSH policy. It is the next legislative step to watch, particularly its extension to the informal sector.
- Use the Guide and job listings. The Guide covers accidents, rights, and the law; the jobs section brings together OSH-related positions nationwide.
Official source: Law No. 13/2023 (Labour Law) is available as a PDF on the website of Mozambique's Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo): official text (PDF).
