Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report for the period ending June 1995. It also notes the observations by the Turkish Confederation of Employer Associations (TISK) and by the Confederation of Trade Unions of Turkey (TURK-IS).

1. Articles 10 and 16 of the Convention. In its observations TURK-IS alleges that the number of inspectors is not sufficient to secure the effective discharge of the duties of the inspectorate and to inspect workplaces as regularly and efficiently as required by the Convention with the effect that clandestine and black employment is widespread and was estimated in 1994 to 4 million workers, among which were children below the minimum age for admission to employment. Referring more specifically to inspection by the Social Security Association (SSA), TURK-IS states that the 415 inspectors of the SSA have to carry out all kinds of inspections called for by the SSA and the 610,000 workplaces which register their workers, and that for this reason a large proportion of inspections concerning illegal workers are carried out following a complaint. The trade union considers that the number of Ministry of Labour and Social Security labour inspectors and the power invested in them is far from adequate to allow labour inspection to be carried out in the manner foreseen in the Convention.

The Committee notes that for its part TISK is of the opinion that complete harmony with the Convention has been reached; adequate mechanisms have been set up in order to inspect the conditions of work in workplaces and the protection of workers, and a large number of men and women inspectors have been appointed for that purpose.

The Committee hopes that the Government will provide its comments on the allegations made by TURK-IS and information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that the number of inspectors is sufficient to secure the effective discharge of the duties of the inspectorate and to ensure that workplaces are inspected as often and thoroughly as is necessary.

2. Article 3, paragraph 1(a). The Committee notes from the 1993 annual labour inspection report that an extensive inspection programme was carried out in the ship-breaking yards in the Aliaga region. According to the report, the regulations governing activities in the yards are not respected, and workers' health and security are jeopardized during the dismantling process by hazards such as fires, explosions, asbestos dust. The Committee notes that the inspections were due to continue in 1994 and that solutions to problems were sought through a revision of the regulations. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide information on the results achieved through the inspection, the revision of the regulations as well as on measures taken to ensure the application of the relevant provisions.