Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Lao People's Democratic Republic (Ratification: 1964)

The Committee notes the Government’s latest report and the information supplied in response to its previous comments. The Committee notes the amended Law on Labour, No. 06/NY, dated 27 December 2006, and the agreement by the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare on the establishment of a National Committee on Occupational Safety and Health, composed of ten representative agencies, meeting regularly to review and plan occupational safety and health activities. However, the Committee notes that no information has been provided regarding its previous comment requesting information on the manner in which the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare cooperates with the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft in matters related to occupational safety and health. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to explain the roles of the abovementioned ministries, and how they cooperate with each other in the application of occupational safety and health.

The Committee notes the Government’s response in its previous reports indicating the intention to draw up a safety and health decree which would include regulations concerning the use of white lead. The Committee reiterates its firm hope that the safety and health decree will be drafted in the very near future and that it will contain such provisions to ensure that effect is given to the following provisions of the Convention: Article 1 (prohibition of the use of white lead and sulphate of lead in the internal painting of buildings); Article 2 (regulation of the use of white lead in artistic painting); Article 3 (prohibition of the employment of young persons under 18 years of age and all females in any painting work involving the use of white lead); Article 5 (regulation of the use of white lead in painting operations for which its use is not prohibited); and Article 7 (establishment of statistics of morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning).