Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Suriname (Ratification: 1976)

Articles 1(1) and 5 of the Convention. Prohibition of the use of white lead and sulphate of lead and of all products containing these pigments. Legislation. Consultation with the social partners. Following the comments it has made since 2004 on the revision of the Safety Act of 1947 and its accompanying regulations, the Committee observes that, according to the report of the Government, this legislative reform has not yet been completed. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that an Occupational Safety and Health Commission (OSH Commission) was instated in August 2023, which has functions related to the establishment, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and periodic review of a national system on occupational safety and health (OSH), in consultation with social partners. According to the Government, the OSH Commission will be tasked with the revision of OSH legislation.

The Committee recalls that, under the current legislative framework, section 1 of the Safety Regulation No. 4 of 1949 provides for a general prohibition on the use of white lead, sulphate of lead or products containing these pigments in the internal painting of buildings, while section 2 authorizes the Inspector General of the Labour Inspection to grant exemptions from this prohibition. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on whether any such exemptions have been granted and, if so, to provide information on the measures taken to implement Article 5 of the Convention, as regards the notification of cases of lead poisoning and of suspected lead poisoning and medical examination of workers. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the progress made in the revision of the applicable OSH legislation, including information on the consultations that have been held with the social partners in this regard.

Article 7. Statistics on morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning. Application of the Convention in practice. Following its previous comments on this matter, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that no statistics are available, as there have been no reports to the labour inspectorate regarding cases of occupational diseases and lead poisoning among painters. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that all cases of occupational disease due to lead exposure among working painters are notified with a view to compiling the relevant statistical information, and to provide information on the measures taken to ensure the application of the Convention in practice.