Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s reports which contain the Government’s response to the observations made by the Korea Employers’ Federation (KEF) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU).

1. Information and advice for employers and workers (Article 3, paragraph 1, of the Convention). In its observations, the KEF expressed the view that the labour inspectors’ function of technical information and advice needs to be reinforced through specific training programmes and to be enshrined into the provisions of national law. The Government indicates in its reply that the initial training courses are provided for those just appointed as labour inspectors, and thereafter, mid-level further training courses are operating every year for almost all the inspectors. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, one of the major functions of inspectors is to supply advice to employers and workers, although such function is not provided for in the Regulation on Duties of Labour Inspectors. The Committee requests the Government to provide particulars on the way in which the inspectors’ training programmes abovementioned helped them giving advice to employers and workers in practice, and on progress made in this regard.

2. Collaboration with employers and workers (Article 5(b)). Regarding the KEF’s observations on the necessity of in-depth discussion, coordination and cooperation in managing the Industrial Safety and Health Policy Deliberation Committee (ISHPDC), the Committee notes the Government’s reply that the ISHPDC, as a tripartite body, has set mid- and long-term basic plans on industrial safety and health, and that it has deliberated and coordinated major policy issues on that area. The Government adds that under the ISHPDC, a working party has been established, among others, to evaluate the annual programmes linked with the abovementioned basic plans. The Committee asks the Government to supply information on the work of the ISHPDC.

3. Proportion of women inspectors (Article 8). Regarding the observations by the FKTU, according to which the proportion of women inspectors is not appropriate since the female workers account for 41 per cent of the entire employees, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government that the number of women inspectors has been on the rise, for example, its proportion increased by 8.3 per cent during the period of 1999-2001, and that the Ministry of Labour has already requested the Ministry of Government Affairs and Home Affairs to increase the number of inspection staff in charge of women’s issues at regional labour offices. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide information on any progress made in this respect.

The Committee addresses a request directly to the Government concerning certain points related to other issues.