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With reference to its observation, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the following points.
Article 7 of the Convention. Statistics on lead poisoning among working painters. The Committee notes that, in reply to the request made in its previous comments, the Government has provided the “Report on occupational diseases in Colombia 2003–05”, which was not however received with the report. However, this report does not contain the statistics requested, for which reason the Committee reiterates its request.
Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the strengthening of the labour inspection system. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on labour inspection activities related to the application of the Convention, including summaries of inspection reports, information on the number and nature of the violations reported and any other details related to the application of the Convention.
Article 3 of the Convention. Prohibition of the employment of young persons under 18 years of age in any painting work of an industrial character involving the use of white lead or sulphate of lead or other products containing these pigments. The Committee notes with satisfaction that, in accordance with resolution No. 4448 of 2005 of the Ministry of Social Welfare, now replaced by resolution No. 1677 of 2008 of the same Ministry, no boy, girl or young person under 18 years of age may be engaged in any painting work of an industrial character involving the use of white lead or sulphate of lead or any product containing these elements. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application of this Article in practice. Furthermore, noting that section 4 of resolution No. 1677 of 2008 envisages the possibility that, under certain conditions, young persons between 15 and 17 years of age who have obtained a technical or technological training qualification may be engaged in activities prohibited by the Decree, the Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the application of this section to the matters covered by this Article of the Convention.
Communication from the Single Confederation of Workers of Colombia (CUT) and the Confederation of Workers of Colombia (CTC). The Committee notes a communication of the CUT and the CTC indicating, among other matters, that the great majority of workers who use industrial paints are in the informal economy or work in small enterprises or craft workshops that are not subject to any legal supervision or any contacts with occupational risk agencies, and on which, for the same reason, there are no reliable statistics. The Committee will examine the communication in detail at its next session, together with any comments that the Government may wish to make thereon.
The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.
1. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report.
2. Article 3 of the Convention. Prohibition of the employment of young persons under 18 years of age in any painting work of an industrial character involving the use of white lead or sulphate of lead or other products containing these pigments. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the General Directorate of Occupational Risks of the Ministry of Social Protection is formulating a standard to determine the occupations and conditions of work that are prohibited for young persons. In the standard that is being prepared, it will be prohibited to employ young persons under 18 years of age in any painting work of an industrial character involving the use of white lead, sulphate of lead or any other product containing these pigments. The Committee trusts that the standard, which is of great importance in giving effect to this provision, will be adopted in the near future and it requests the Government to provide information on this subject, as well as a copy of the text once it has been adopted.
3. Article 7. Statistics on lead poisoning among working painters. The Committee notes that, according to the Government’s report, the General Directorate of Occupational Risks is compiling information on the occupational diseases diagnosed in the context of the contributory scheme of the General Social Security Health System. During the course of 2003, five cases of lead poisoning were diagnosed out of almost 6 million contributing members. The Committee requests the Government to transmit with its next report the Occupational Disease Report for 2003.
4. Part IV of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee requests the Government to provide general information on the manner in which the Convention is applied, including extracts from the reports of the inspection services and the number of contraventions reported.