Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Suriname (Ratification: 1976)

Articles 1(1) and 6 of the Convention. Prohibition of the use of white lead and sulphate of lead and of all products containing these pigments. Legislation. Consultation with the social partners. The Committee previously noted the indication in the Government’s report that, in June 2008, the Ministry of Labour, Technological Development and Environment started revising the labour legislation, and that a committee was appointed to revise the legislation regarding labour conditions which would include the revision of the Safety Act of 1947. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s present report that the revision of the labour legislation does include a revision of the Safety Act of 1947, but that it has not yet started. The Committee further notes that the Ministry of Labour Technological Development and Environment has a concept of the Industrial Accidents Act ready for communication to the Board of Ministers and that as soon as the revised legislation is adopted, a copy will be forwarded to the Committee. The Committee once again hopes that the revision of the labour legislation, in particular the Safety Act of 1947, will include consultation mechanisms with employers’ and workers’ organizations, and that the Government will give full effect to provisions of this Convention. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on progress in this regard, and to submit copies of the revised legislation as soon as it has been adopted, if possible in one of the working languages of the ILO.

Article 7. Statistics on morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee previously noted in the Government’s report that, according to the Medical Bureau of the Labour Inspection, occupational diseases are not, or are very poorly, reported to the labour inspectorate. The Committee notes from the Government’s current report that statistical data on occupational diseases remains a problem mainly due to non-compliance of employers. The Committee further notes that no reports have been received regarding lead poisoning among painters. The Committee requests the Government to indicate measures taken or envisaged to ensure the application of the Convention in practice. The Committee also, once again, requests the Government to undertake measures to ensure statistical data on lead poisoning among working painters can be obtained, as required by Article 7 of the Convention. It asks the Government to provide these statistical data, including a description of the statistical methods adopted, in its next report.