Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Madagascar (Ratification: 1960)

Other comments on C013

Direct Request

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The Committee notes the observations of the Christian Confederation of Malagasy Trade Unions (SEKRIMA), received on 2 June 2015, according to which there are currently several shortcomings in workplaces where paint is used, and particularly the inadequacy of the means for the reduction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a lack of overall control in the management of waste, inadequate medical follow-up of workers and the inadequacy of the legal texts governing painting work, and the lack of knowledge of these texts among workers in the painting sector. SEKRIMA enumerates a number of measures that should be taken to reduce emissions of VOCs, including the control of paint and cleaning products with low levels of solvents, the harmonization and dissemination of the legal texts governing painting work and the reinforcement of the responsibility of enterprises for the safety and health of workers. SEKRIMA adds that there is insufficient supervision of workers engaged in the informal painting sector. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

Article 7 of the Convention. Statistical data. Application in practice. The Committee notes that the Government reiterates that no cases of occupational disease due to lead poisoning have been reported. With regard to the measures to ensure that all cases of lead poisoning are notified, the Government indicates that: (i) lead poisoning is contained in the list of occupational diseases and must be notified by the employer to the National Social Insurance Fund (CNaPS) in accordance with section 170(1) of the Social Insurance Code; and (ii) workers who may be exposed to this disease regularly undergo medical examinations undertaken by occupational medicine services, based on which activity reports containing information on occupational diseases, including lead poisoning (where it exists), are drawn up by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health of the Ministry of Labour. The Committee requests the Government to give an appreciation of the application in practice of the requirement for employers to notify presumed cases of lead poisoning, and the obligation for occupational medicine services to carry out medical examinations and draw up activity reports containing information on occupational diseases, including lead poisoning, where it exists.