Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Sickness Insurance (Industry) Convention, 1927 (No. 24) - Nicaragua (Ratification: 1934)

With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report. The Government indicates that, in general, the proportion of the population benefiting from sickness and maternity insurance coverage rose from 5.4 per cent in 1998 to 14.5 per cent in 2005. Moreover, measures have been taken, particularly through communication campaigns, but also a reinforcement of supervision of compliance with the legislation, to incite employers to register their workers with the social security. The Government adds in its report that a new project developed by the National Social Security Institute has the effect of extending coverage by invalidity, maternity, old-age and survivors’ and employment injury insurance to domestic workers. A new medical insurance enterprise (Empresa Médica Previsional) has also been established to provide better access to care for the population in the regions of Siuna, Rosita and Bonanza, which are essentially inhabited by the indigenous population. The Committee notes this information with interest. It would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide detailed information in future reports on the application of the Convention in practice, on the organization of the sickness insurance system and on the measures adopted to continue the progressive extension of the sickness insurance system to all workers covered by the Convention. In this respect, while welcoming the project to extend social insurance coverage to domestic workers, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would specify whether, as required by Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention, it is envisaged that domestic workers will also be covered by sickness insurance.