Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

Workmen's Compensation (Accidents) Convention, 1925 (No. 17) - Nicaragua (Ratification: 1934)

With reference to the Committee's comments with regard to extension of social security system cover, the Government indicates in its report communicated in 1998 that the Nicaraguan Institute of Social Security (INSS) has established a new social welfare system covering occupational risks in particular, and adopted a number of measures designed to increase and improve medical and monetary benefits payable in the event of occupational injury. The Government also states that the action designed to increase the number of people protected in agriculture, described in the report on the application of Convention No. 12, are valid for the occupational risks system. This action has allowed an increase in the number of people insured against occupational risks (197,095 insured in 1993 as against 216, 293 in 1997) which, even so, in 1997 represented only 15 per cent of the economically active population as against 22.5 per cent in 1990. In the near future, the INSS will establish a plan to inspect enterprises and to publicize widely the programmes and benefits of the occupational risks system in order to encourage enterprises to affiliate workers to said system.

The Committee notes this information. While appreciating the action undertaken by the INSS to increase the number of people covered by the social security system, particularly in the occupational risks branch, the Committee notes that the falling trend in the number of people protected as a proportion of the active population has not been reversed. The Committee therefore wishes the Government to continue to communicate information on the measures taken to extend the protection afforded by the INSS, particularly in the occupational risks branch, to all workers falling within the scope of the Convention and to supply statistics on the number of wage earners and apprentices protected against this risk in comparison with the total number of workers engaged in these public or private enterprises, businesses or establishments.

The Committee also requests the Government to send it information on the new social welfare model established in 1994 by the INSS, specifically for the occupational risks branch, as well as any relevant legislation.