Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Cameroon (Ratification: 1960)

The Committee notes the observations of the General Union of Workers of Cameroon (UGTC), received on 25 September 2015 and the response of the Government to these observations, received on 3 December 2015. The Committee will examine the observations of the UGTC and the response of the Government thereto in due course.

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report in relation to the effect given to Articles 3 and 5(II), (III)(b) and (IV) of the Convention.

Article 5(I) of the Convention. Regulation of the use of white lead in operations for which its use is not prohibited. The Committee notes that the legislative instruments cited by the Government do not seem to give effect to Article 5(I) of the Convention. The Committee thus requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged, in law and practice, to give effect to the provisions of Article 5(I) of the Convention.

Article 5(III)(a). Notification of cases of suspected lead poisoning. The Committee notes that, under section 17(2) of Act No. 77-11 of 13 July 1977 on compensation and prevention of occupational accidents and diseases, employers are obliged to notify any occupational disease reported in the enterprise, but that this obligation does not seem to extend to cases of suspected occupational disease. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged, in law and practice, to ensure that employers notify cases of suspected lead poisoning.

Article 7. Statistics on morbidity and mortality. Application in practice. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that statistics on lead poisoning among working painters are not available due to, inter alia, the fact that it is difficult to diagnose occupational diseases, the lack of awareness of the risks among workers and employers, who may also not be acting in good faith, and the fact that occupational safety and health inspectors do not have specific training in this area. The Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to establish statistics on cases of morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning and to provide information on the measures taken in this regard. In the meantime, it requests the Government to send any available information on lead-related diseases and any other information relating to the application of the Convention in practice.