Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

The Committee refers to its observation and its comments on the application of Convention No. 81 and would be grateful if the Government would provide further information on the following points.

1. Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Convention. Prerogatives for labour inspectors regarding the living conditions of agricultural workers and their families. Noting that the Government plans to extend labour inspectors’ supervisory duties in this area, the Committee hopes that it will soon be in a position to report progress and provide information on any developments in this respect.

2. Article 9, paragraph 3. Training for labour inspectors in specific aspects of agricultural work. The Committee notes that the Government has again stated its intention of including a course on labour inspection in agriculture in the training programme of the National School of Administration (ENAM). It adds that the training could begin at the start of the 2008 academic year. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on all training activities that specifically target the work of labour inspectors in agriculture, both in ENAM or elsewhere (seminars, workshops, etc.), specifying in particular the duration of the training, the number of participants and the subjects covered (child labour, prevention of occupational risks, occupational safety and health, etc.).

3. Article 11. Collaboration with qualified technical experts. Since at present there are no inspectors specialized in agriculture, the Committee again points out that it would be useful for labour inspectors to be able to cooperate with duly qualified technical experts, as envisaged in Article 11 of the Convention, for the purpose of preventing and controlling occupational risks specific to agriculture such as those involved in the handling and use of chemicals and agricultural machinery. It again requests the Government to indicate whether measures have been taken to this end and, if so, to give details of how such collaboration takes place.