Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

White Lead (Painting) Convention, 1921 (No. 13) - Comoros (Ratification: 1978)

1. The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the comments made by the Union of Autonomous Comorian Workers’ Organizations (USATC) and the Government’s reply.

The Union of Autonomous Comorian Workers’ Organizations (USATC) observes that, owing to the lack of occupational health services, it is difficult to confirm categorically the non-existence of victims of lead poisoning. This being the case, the USATC requests that occupational health services be established, taking account of developments in the use of chemical products.

In its reply, the Government indicates that in view of the lack of a statistics department and an occupational health service, the labour administration service is unable to provide reliable statistics on morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning.

2. In addition, the Committee notes the brief information communicated by the Government in reply to its previous comments in which it reiterated the need for statistics to be provided on morbidity and mortality due to lead poisoning, pursuant to Article 7 of the Convention. In this regard the Government indicates that there is no enterprise in Comoros which uses chemical products capable of causing lead poisoning. In view of the comment by the USATC and the Government’s observations, the Committee considers that the Government should take all necessary steps to evaluate the situation in the country concerning the use of white lead, lead sulphate and all products containing these pigments, which would be harmful to the health of workers, and consequently to establish statistics on the subject of lead poisoning in working painters. These statistics must cover both morbidity and mortality, in conformity with Article 7 of the Convention. The Government hopes to adopt the necessary measures to this end, while requesting technical assistance from the ILO in the context of strengthening the capacity of the labour administration, in particular by the training of labour inspectors and occupational health physicians. The Committee therefore hopes that the Government will provide relevant information on the progress made with regard to the adoption of these measures.

2. The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.