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White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Nicaragua (RATIFICATION: 1934)

In comments it has been making for several years, the Committee has noted that the Government has not supplied any statistics concerning lead poisoning among working painters, as requested in the report form under Article 7 of the Convention. The Government stated earlier that the General Directorate of Occupational Health and Safety had been unable to compile the statistics requested because enterprises do not record such information, and added that the Ministry of Labour and Health is intending to establish the means for enterprises to report this type of information.

The Committee notes the information in the Government's last report that the two existing paint enterprises have reduced their production because of the economic recession and were inspected by the labour inspectorate.

The Committee noted that section 7 of the Regulations of 1996 concerning the use of white lead and other pigments in painting provides that cases of lead poisoning and suspected lead poisoning shall be notified to the Ministry of Health, in accordance with Article 5.III(a) of the Convention. It would recall that under Article 6 of the Convention, the competent authority is to take such steps as it considers necessary to ensure the observance of the regulations prescribed in pursuance of the Convention. The Committee hopes that the Government will be able to ensure in the near future that enterprises record cases of lead poisoning and suspected lead poisoning, in accordance with the regulations adopted pursuant to the Convention, so that it can compile the statistics on lead poisoning among working painters required under Article 7 of the Convention. The Government is asked to indicate progress made in this regard in its next report.