Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Cambodia (Ratification: 1969)

The Committee notes with interest the information in the Government’s report concerning the signature and publication by the Minister of Labour and Vocational Training of a first Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan 2009–13, including six action areas with concrete strategies and specific targets set. The Committee notes, inter alia, that Action No. 1.6, entitled “Apply ILO OSH standards and prepare for ratification”, targets the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), the Plantations Convention, 1958 (No. 110), the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), the Safety and Health in Construction Convention, 1988 (No. 167), the Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention, 2001 (No. 184), the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), and the ILO Guidelines on occupational safety and health management systems (ILO–OSH 2001). Welcoming these developments, the Committee would like to take this opportunity to inform the Government that, in March 2010, the Governing Body adopted a plan of action to achieve widespread ratification and effective implementation of the key instruments in the area of OSH, Convention No. 155, its 2002 Protocol and Convention No. 187, (document GB.307/10/2(Rev.) 2010–16). The Committee would like to bring to the Government’s attention that under this plan of action, the Office is available to provide assistance to governments, as appropriate, to bring their national law and practice into conformity with these key OSH Conventions in order to promote their ratification and effective implementation. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any developments regarding the implementation of the Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan 2009–13 and on any needs for assistance it may have in this respect.

Application of the Convention. With reference to its previous comments and the Government’s brief report, the Committee notes the information that while no other action has been taken yet to implement this Convention due to the lack of material and human resources, some training about the effect of the use of white lead has been held with 24 provincial labour inspection officers. With reference to the foregoing and that the Government in its 1994 report indicated that the use of white lead has been very widespread in the country, particularly during the period of reconstruction, the Committee again urges the Government to take appropriate action to give full effect to the Convention and requests the Government to indicate in its next report any progress made in this regard.