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

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

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.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Articles 1(1) and 6 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. The Committee previously noted the indication in the Government’s report that, in June 2008, the Ministry of Labour, Technological Development and Environment started revising the labour legislation, and that a committee was appointed to revise the legislation regarding labour conditions which would include the revision of the Safety Act of 1947. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s present report that the revision of the labour legislation does include a revision of the Safety Act of 1947, but that it has not yet started. The Committee further notes that the Ministry of Labour Technological Development and Environment has a concept of the Industrial Accidents Act ready for communication to the Board of Ministers and that as soon as the revised legislation is adopted, a copy will be forwarded to the Committee. The Committee once again hopes that the revision of the labour legislation, in particular the Safety Act of 1947, will include consultation mechanisms with employers’ and workers’ organizations, and that the Government will give full effect to provisions of this Convention. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on progress in this regard, and to submit copies of the revised legislation as soon as it has been adopted, if possible in one of the working languages of the ILO.

Article 7. Statistics on morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee previously noted in the Government’s report that, according to the Medical Bureau of the Labour Inspection, occupational diseases are not, or are very poorly, reported to the labour inspectorate. The Committee notes from the Government’s current report that statistical data on occupational diseases remains a problem mainly due to non-compliance of employers. The Committee further notes that no reports have been received regarding lead poisoning among painters. The Committee requests the Government to indicate measures taken or envisaged to ensure the application of the Convention in practice. The Committee also, once again, requests the Government to undertake measures to ensure statistical data on lead poisoning among working painters can be obtained, as required by Article 7 of the Convention. It asks the Government to provide these statistical data, including a description of the statistical methods adopted, in its next report.

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

Article 1, paragraph 1, and Article 6 of the Convention. The Committee notes the response provided in the Government’s report indicating that in June 2008 the Ministry of Labour, Technological Development and Environment started revising labour legislation, and that a committee was appointed to revise the legislation regarding labour conditions which will include the revision of the Safety Act of 1947. The Committee hopes that revision of labour legislation, in particular the Safety Act of 1947, will include consultation mechanisms with employers’ and workers’ organizations, and that the Government will give full effect to provisions of this Convention. The Committee asks the Government to keep it informed of progress in this regard, and to send copies of revised legislation as soon as it has been adopted.

Article 7. Statistics on morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that, according to the Medical Bureau of the Labour Inspection, occupational diseases are not, or are very poorly, reported to the labour inspectorate. The Committee reiterates its request that the Government undertake measures to ensure that statistical data on lead poisoning among working painters can be obtained, as required by Article 7. The Committee hopes that the Government’s next report will contain these statistical data, including a description of the statistical methods adopted, which have been requested by the Committee for a number of years.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report. It notes in particular the Government’s indication that it seriously considers an overall revision of the Safety Act of 1947 and its enabling regulations. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee would draw the Government’s attention to the following points.

1. Articles 1, paragraph 1, and 6 of the Convention. Consultation with employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that mechanisms for consultations with employers’ and workers’ organizations have been established and that they are held within the Labour Advisory Board. The Government further indicates that such consultations are held in case they are needed which was, however, not the case until now. The Government nevertheless announces that it intends to align the provision of article 2 of the Safety Regulation No. 4 of 1949, authorizing the Inspector General of the Labour Inspection to grant, inter alia, exemptions from article 1 of the Safety Regulation No. 4 providing for a general prohibition to use white lead, sulphate of lead or products containing these pigments in the internal painting of buildings or ships, with the provisions of Articles 1 and 6 of the Convention in the framework of the revision of the Safety Act of 1947. In view of this fact, the Committee hopes that the Government will proceed to the elaboration and adoption of a revised Safety Act in the near future which includes consultation mechanisms with employers’ and workers’ organizations other than ad hoc mechanisms, to ensure that full effect is given to Article 1, paragraph 1, and Article 6 of the Convention.

With regard to exemptions from the general prohibition to use white lead that might be granted by virtue of article 2 of the Safety Regulations No. 4, the Government indicates that the establishment of criteria for granting such exemptions will be considered in the process of the overall revision of the Safety Act, 1947. The Committee, taking due note of this information, requests the Government to supply information on any progress made with respect to the overall revision of the Safety Act of 1947.

2. Article 7. Statistics on morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, at present, no statistics are available with regard to morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning among working painters. However, measures have been taken to collect such data. The Committee therefore requests the Government to specify the measures taken to collect statistical data on lead poisoning among working painters. It hopes that the next report of the Government will contain these statistical data which have been requested by the Committee for a number of years, including a description of the statistical methods adopted.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

1. Articles 1, paragraph 1, and 6 of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, according to article 2 of the Safety Regulation No. 4 of 19 October 1949, the Inspector General of the Labour Inspection is  authorized to define the limits and to regulate the use of the substances as well as to grant exemptions from article 1 of the above Safety Regulation, providing for a general prohibition to use white lead, sulphate of lead or products containing these pigments in the internal painting of buildings and ships, if he deems the use of white lead, sulphate or products containing these pigments necessary. The Government further indicates that no consultations with employers’ and workers’ organizations have taken place. However, in case consultations are needed, they would be held within the Labour Advisory Board. The Committee recalls that according to Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention, the employers’ and workers’ organizations concerned have to be consulted where the use of white lead or sulphate of lead or products containing these pigments is considered necessary by the competent authority. It therefore requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that consultations with the employers’ and workers’ organizations are held, in application of Articles 1, paragraph 1, and 6, of the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate whether criteria have been developed or limitations have been established in the framework of article 2 of the Safety Regulation No. 4 concerning the grant of exemptions to the general prohibition to use white lead, sulphate of lead or products containing these pigments.

2. Article 7. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that at present no statistics on morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning among working painters are available. The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or contemplated with regard to the compilation of statistical data on lead poisoning among working painters, in application of Article 7 of the Convention. It hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to provide the statistical data, which have been requested by the Committee for a number of years.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee notes that the Government's report does not contain any information in answer to the question raised. The Committee must therefore repeat its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes from the Government's report that there has been no change in the legislation giving effect to the Convention. It notes, however, that the Government has not supplied any statistics concerning lead poisoning among working painters for a number of years, as requested in the report form under Article 7 of the Convention. The Government is, therefore, requested to provide statistics on mobility and mortality due to lead poisoning in its next report.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

The Committee notes from the Government's report that there has been no change in the legislation giving effect to the Convention. It notes, however, that, the Government has not supplied any statistics concerning lead poisoning among working painters for a number of years, as requested in the report form under Article 7 of the Convention. The Government is, therefore, requested to provide statistics on morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning in its next report.