Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 (No. 149) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (Ratification: 1983)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following matters raised in its previous request:

Article 2, paragraph 2(b), of the Convention. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the repeal of Resolution No. G-74 of 11 December 1979, and the adoption of a number of other legal texts concerning the levels of remuneration of public service employees and nursing personnel in the public sector, which appear to be comparable. It also notes the information on the classification of nursing personnel and the new measures envisaged in this respect. The Committee hopes that the Government will continue to indicate in future reports any progress achieved in this connection. The Committee recalls that in its previous comments it asked for information of the remuneration of nursing personnel who are not public employees. As no such information has been provided in the report, the Committee again requests the Government to provide it in the next report.

Article 4. The Committee notes that the draft Act on the Practice of Nursing has not been adopted. Please indicate whether it is still under consideration. The Committee notes the information supplied on academic qualifications for the practice of nursing.

Article 5, paragraph 1. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government on the Health Board (Comisión Rectora de Salud) and on the participation of the Nursing Association (El Colegio de Profesionales de Enfermería) as representatives of nursing personnel on the Board. Please indicate how this ensures their participation in the planning of nursing services.

Article 5, paragraph 3. The Government's report appears to indicate that the settlement of disputes in the public sector is achieved through informal methods based on dialogue with the professional association of nurses and, in other cases, in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Labour Act. The Committee requests the Government to supply additional information on the application in practice of the Convention on this point.

Article 1, paragraph 3, Article 2, paragraph 4, and Article 3, paragraphs 1 and 2. The Committee notes the Government's reply to its previous comments which appears to indicate that there are no nurses in Venezuela who give nursing care and services on a voluntary basis, though the "Damas Voluntarias" (Volunteer Ladies) keep sick persons company and ensure that they follow their treatment. The Committee would appreciate receiving confirmation that these groups are not used to provide nursing care and nursing services.

The Committee takes note of the information supplied by the Government under point V of the report form. It requests the Government to continue to supply in its future reports the statistics and other information as required by point V of the report form.