Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report.

The Committee notes that the Government has not provided the texts of the relevant legislation applying the Convention as the direct request of 1998 called for. The Committee notes that according to the information provided by the Government, several organizations consider that the requirements of the provisions of the Convention are fully implemented and, consequently, the use of white lead paints is strictly forbidden by the relevant orders and instructions of the managers of the enterprises. However, the Committee recalls that in accordance with Article 1 of the Convention, the obligation to undertake the prohibition of using white lead and sulphate of lead, and of all products containing these pigments, in the internal painting of buildings (with the exceptions that the Convention establishes) is on each Member of the International Labour Organization ratifying the Convention. For this purpose, the State is entrusted to give effect to the provisions of the Conventions with legislation, administrative regulations, etc. Therefore, the Committee reiterates its request of supplying copies of the relevant legislation in order to enable the Committee to examine the application of the Convention.

The Committee requests that the Government provide in its next report, in accordance with Article 7 of the Convention, statistics with regard to lead poisoning among working painters, particularly on: (a) the morbidity - by notification and certification of all cases of lead poisoning; and (b) the mortality - by a method approved by the official statistical authority in the country.