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

Nursing Personnel Convention, 1977 (No. 149) - Guatemala (Ratification: 1995)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its first report. The Committee requests the Government to provide additional information on the following points:

Article 1, paragraph 3, of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government's statement to the effect that there are no special rules established concerning nursing personnel who give nursing care and services on a voluntary basis, since in accordance with the Constitution, all work should be remunerated. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether, in practice, nursing personnel in Guatemala occasionally offer nursing care and service on a voluntary basis.

Article 2, paragraph 2(b). The Committee requests the Government to provide information in respect of the employment and working conditions of nursing personnel employed in the private sector, also indicating the career prospects and remuneration which are likely to attract persons to the profession and to retain them in it.

Article 4. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the regulation of the National Nursing School remains in force or whether it has been repealed and, if so, the Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the text.

Article 5, paragraph 2. The Committee requests the Government to provide information and copies of texts relative to the collective agreements concluded which concern nursing personnel employed in the private sector.

Article 5, paragraph 3. The Committee requests the Government to provide information relative to the procedures adopted for the settlement of disputes arising in connection with the determination of the terms and conditions of employment of nursing personnel employed in the public sector.

Article 6. With regard to the conditions of work referred to in Article 6(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and (g) of the Convention, the Committee requests the Government to indicate: (i) whether these conditions are regulated by the provisions of the Labour Code as well as the provisions of the Act respecting the civil service; and (ii) whether there are also collective and other agreements which regulate these conditions of work.

Article 7. The Committee requests the Government to provide additional information on the measures adopted to improve existing laws and regulations on occupational health and safety by adapting them to the special nature of nursing work and of the environment in which it is carried out.

Point V of the report form. The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government relative to the number of nursing personnel employed in the public and private sectors. It also notes that the number of persons who are entering the profession is estimated at approximately 10 per cent of the number of persons who are leaving the profession.

The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide general information in respect of the application of the Convention in conformity with the provisions of the Convention.