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The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes that regulation No. 2 prohibits the use of white lead in the internal painting of buildings, unless considered necessary by experts for use in industrial establishments. It notes with satisfaction the Government’s indication according to which the above-mentioned regulation has been elaborated after consultation with the Islamic Union of Afghanistan Workers and the Association of Private Industries.

2. Article 5(I)(c). The Committee notes that regulation No. 3(b) calls for the use of the necessary tools in order to prevent hazards arising from dust caused by dry rubbing down and scarping. The Committee would ask the Government to indicate whether any further protective measures such as guidelines or instructions exist or are envisaged to assist the working painters in determining the measures to be taken in this regard.

3. Article 5(III)(a). The Committee notes that regulation No. 5 provides for cases of lead poisoning to be communicated to the concerned department and to be verified by a scientific investigation made by a medical team. The Government is requested to indicate the department which is to be informed by virtue of this regulation and to indicate the manner in which such notification is to be made.

4. Article 5(III)(b). The Committee notes that section 119 of the Labour Code provides generally that workers engaged in work carried out under conditions harmful to health must undergo medical examinations. According to the Government these examinations are carried out at least every six months. The nature of such examinations is regulated by the Ministry of Public Health in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The Government is requested to indicate whether medical examinations are required for workers involved in painting work using white lead, sulphate of lead, or products containing these pigments and, if so, whether these examinations are carried out on a regular basis.

5. Article 6. The Committee takes note of the Government’s indication according to which observance of the regulations concerning the use of white lead is ensured by means of pecuniary penalties. The Committee would ask the Government to indicate the manner in which employers’ and workers’ organizations are consulted in this regard.

6. Article 7. The Committee notes the indication in the Government’s report that no important event has been recorded, but that no information concerning diseases caused by white lead is available yet. The Government is requested to take the necessary action to establish statistics on morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning among painters in the next report and to indicate the statistical method adopted.

7. The Government is requested to provide information in its next report on the practical application of the Convention, including relevant extracts from inspection reports, information regarding the number of workers covered by the relevant legislation and the number and nature of contraventions reported, as requested under Part V of the report form.

Furthermore, the Committee again requests the Government to provide a copy of the relevant Official Gazette containing the regulation concerning the use of white lead in painting.