A motion for an interlocutory injunction was brought to prevent the City of Toronto from enforcing its By-law that prohibited camping and erecting tents, structures, and shelters in City parks, City of Toronto Municipal Code, c. 608. The applicants did not challenge the validity of the By-law but sought an order to have it suspended …Read more

The applicants appealed a decision affirming the constitutionality of Brian’s Law (Mental Health Legislative Reform), 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 9. (“Brian’s Law”), which was enacted by the Ontario legislature in 2000. Brian’s Law amended the Mental Health Act (“MHA”), adding provisions that expanded criteria for involuntary committal in a psychiatric hospital and introduced community treatment …Read more

The applicants’ claim was based on s. 27(1)(b) of the Constitution – the right to sufficient food and water, which they submitted found further expression in the provisions of the Water Services Act 108 of 1997 (“WSA”). Their complaint argued that farm occupiers and labour tenants, especially the applicants, lacked “access to sufficient water, basic …Read more

The applicant, Mr. Slavko Krajnc, was a professional truck driver in Celje, Slovenia. On September 29, 2003, Krajnc was deemed to have “category III work-related disability” as a result of his epilepsy, which rendered him unable to work as a truck driver. Accordingly, he had the right to be assigned to a different, more suitable …Read more

The Plaintiff, who is a doctor worked on locum basis for the Defendant, which is a corporate entity and provided medical services. The Defendant offered the post of Medical Officer to the plaintiff with the condition that he is deemed medically fit. Thereafter the Defendant withdrew the appointment offer and informed the Plaintiff that he …Read more

From 1968 to early 2003 the applicants were employees at the state-owned Malta Drydocks Corporation (MDC), where they alleged they were exposed to asbestos. The applicants also alleged that the asbestos particles settled in their clothing and were carried home, affecting their private life. Asbestos had been known to be dangerous since the 1950s, however, …Read more

Three applicants, who were all current or former prostitutes, challenged the constitutionality of three provisions of the Criminal Code, R.S.C. 1985. The three provisions outlawed “bawdy-houses” (also referred to as brothels), “living on the avails” (living off of a prostitutes profits), and public communication with prostitutes. Prostitution was legal in Canada, however, Parliament was allowed …Read more

Mr Mankayi brought an action for delictual (tort) damages against AngloGold Ashanti Limited (AngloGold). While working as an underground mineworker between January 1979 and September 1995, Mr Mankayi claimed to have been exposed to harmful dusts and gases that led to his contracting tuberculosis and a chronic obstructive airway condition; these ailments rendered him unable …Read more

Exercising its obligatory preliminary control powers, the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Belarus considered the constitutionality of the Law of the Republic of Belarus on Making Alterations and Addenda to Certain Laws of the Republic of Belarus on Social Protection of the Disabled People (the Law). The law made amendments and additions to previous …Read more

The applicants were three companies selling pre-packaged food items. They challenged the constitutionality of a 2009 law that restricted smoking in publically accessible closed spaces, for the protection of non-smokers and workers in such establishments. The law generally required that establishments either ban smoking or install smoking rooms. Establishments where the primary activity was serving …Read more

Wong and Selim were “vocationally registered general practitioner(s)” within s 3F of the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) (the Act). Both were found to have engaged in “inappropriate practice” by a Professional Services Review Committee (the Committee) established under Pt VAA (ss 80-106ZR) of the Act. The effect of the Committee’s findings was to require …Read more

Jean Smith brought an action for damages against her employee, Northamptonshire Council, under the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, for injuries she suffered in her employment. Ms. Smith was employed by the council as a driver and a carer. Her duties included picking up Mrs. Cotter, who was confined to a wheelchair, …Read more

Petitioner Hernán Antonio Barrero Bravo brought action challenging the constitutionality of Law 860 (Reform of the Social Security System law), alleging its violation of articles 48 (principle of progressive realization), 49 (principle of non-retrogression of social rights) and 53 (principle of non-retrogression in the protection given by the previous law) of the Constitution in changing …Read more

The Plaintiffs, parents of a worker who died in a fire at his workplace, sued their son´s employer for damages. They alleged that the employer had not implemented appropriate measures to deal with situations of emergency such as the fire that caused their son’s death. The lower court accepted the claim of the Plaintiffs, awarding …Read more

The appellant was assigned to ensure the proper alignment of the cargo containers when moving cargo containers into and out of a hatch within vessels. This required him to repeatedly enter and leave the hatch. He did so via the only means of access available to them – a metal rung ladder hanging vertically alongside …Read more

A group of employees brought an action in negligence for damages against their employer, Chemical & Insulating Co, for exposure to asbestos in the course of their employment. The employees had been negligently exposed to asbestos and had as a consequence developed pleural plaques. This was the thickening of a layer of fibers on the …Read more

The Respondent, Monsanto Chemicals of India, was engaged in the formulation of herbicides in India. In accordance with the Insecticide Act, 1968, the Respondent had been granted statutory approval by the Central Insecticides Board. Mangesh G. Salodkar, the Petitioner was employed at Monsanto’s establishment at Lonavala. Soon after taking voluntary retirement, he suffered a brain …Read more

The Petitioners, including Praveen Rashtrapal, filed this public interest litigation in the Gujarat High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution (original writ jurisdiction of High Courts). The petition was filed on behalf of sewage cleaners (cleaners) in and around the City of Ahmadabad. The Petitioners claimed that the right to life and health of …Read more

This case was brought as a test case to examine the scope of an exception in tort law causation rules. In Fairchild v. Glenhaven Funeral Services Ltd [2002] UKHL 22 (Fairchild), the House of Lords created an exception in to the normal law of causation in torts for workers who had been exposed to asbestos dust …Read more

The region of Wallonia brought a claim before the Court challenging a 1996 Royal Decree limiting the stocking of inflammable and combustible products in the workplace. The Decree created a law to address safety concerns in stocking such products and protect the well-being of all workers in the worksite. The applicant challenged the jurisdictional validity …Read more

The Respondent, Lekha, dismissed the Applicant, Banda, from employment for reasons related to the Applicant’s health. The Applicant was dismissed “immediately and without any formality” after she attended “HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing” and tested positive for HIV. The Applicant claimed that during her employment she had never been incapacitated as a result of her …Read more

The plaintiff alleges that Greece failed to comply with its obligation to protect public health against air pollution of the  European Social Charter by allowing the operate of lignite mines and power stations without taking all necessary steps to reduce this impact. The MFHR bases its claim on studies of particulate matter that show that …Read more

The Petitioner, Stamen Filipov, challenged a provision regulating right to strike for employees in health care organizations from the Law on Health Care (the Law). The provision stipulated that health care workers had a right to strike as long as doing so did not risk the life and health of citizens. Accordingly, it laid down …Read more

A 29-year-old construction worker fell 10 meters from veneer roof while at work, rendering him permanently and totally disabled. No safety devices were provided by the employer, including a net or other protection mechanism to protect workers from falls.  The worker brought an action challenging the constitutionality of Article 39(1) of the Occupational Risks Law …Read more

The Petitioner, Seenath Beevi, was the head nurse at a government hospital in Kerala. She worked 14 hours a day, six days a week because shift duties were not available at the hospital. The government had introduced a “3 shift system” in some hospitals with the aim of limiting working hours to 8 hours per …Read more

Six communications jointly alleged that the Mauritanian state committed numerous human rights violations from 1986 to 1992. Specifically, the communications alleged that the State violated articles 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, and 26 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (“the Charter”), which came into …Read more

Agnes Rae was passively exposed to cigarette smoke as a civilian employee at the Wishaw Police office during 1979 to 1994. She became ill as a result of this exposure. The Strathclyde Regional Council were the largest employer in Scotland at the time of this matter, and employed their own Occupational Health Department. In 1999, …Read more

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) alleged that a large number of children work illegally in many economic sectors in Portugal. It further stated that the poor working conditions these children are subjected to have a serious impact on their health. The ICJ produced several documents and relied particularly on a report which stated that …Read more

The Petitioner was an individual concerned about the high rate of employment of children in the Match factories of Sivakasi in Kamaraj District of Tamil Nadu State. He contended that such employment was hazardous and unconstitutional. Being aggrieved, he filed a writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution. The Respondent Government did not deny …Read more

Kirloskar Brothers Ltd., the Appellant, had its registered office in Maharashtra with regional offices in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The Employees State Insurance Corporation, the Respondent, required the Appellant to contribute their share for their workmen’s health insurance, as required by Section 3(9) of the Employees’ State Insurance Act, 1948 (the Act). Disputing the liability, …Read more

The Appellant, Doe, was an HIV-positive employee of Respondent SEPTA. Doe brought this constitutional challenge after SEPTA reviewed his prescription drug records for the purpose of monitoring its employee prescription plan. Doe claimed that SEPTA infringed his right to privacy implicit in the right to due process in the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Doe …Read more

The Consumer Education and Research Center filed several writ petitions against the State of India under Article 32 (obligation to promote social justice and welfare of the people) of the Indian Constitution regarding the protection of workers against the occupational health hazards and diseases associated with asbestos exposure. The petitioner applied for remedial measures to …Read more

Electroquimica Pesada S.A. (the “Company”), was operating with outdated equipment and was releasing emissions of chlorine and other noxious gases into the environment that posed harm to both its employees as well as the residents of Nicaragua.  The Company was required to shut down its operations by a series of orders issued by the Minister …Read more

Calcutta Electricity Supply Corporation (India) Ltd. (CESC), the Appellant, engaged contractors (the Respondents), including Mr. Subhash Chandra Bose, to provide “excavation, conversion of overhead electric lines and laying of underground cables under public roads, as well as for repair and maintenance.” The Regional Director of the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) notified the Appellant that …Read more