Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) - Croatia (Ratification: 1991)

Other comments on C129

Observation

Direct Request

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The Committee notes the Government’s report received on 29 October 2010. Further to its comments under the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), the Committee wishes to raise the following points.

Article 9 of the Convention. Recruitment and training of labour inspectors in agriculture. The Committee notes that labour inspectors are admitted to service after having gone through a process of mentoring and a state examination. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the mentoring and examination process covers issues specifically related to agriculture (e.g. the handling of dangerous pesticides and other chemicals) and, if that is not the case, to indicate any measures taken or envisaged to ensure that full effect is given in this regard to Article 9 of the Convention.

Article 15(1)(b). Transport facilities. The Committee notes that, according to the Government’s report, at the end of 2009 the State Inspectorate had at its disposal 158 cars, which were nevertheless not sufficient, given that labour inspectors carry out field work covering the entire territory of the Republic of Croatia. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate any further measures taken or envisaged in order to improve the transport facilities at the disposal of the State Inspectorate especially in agriculture, and to indicate the arrangements made to reimburse to inspectors any travelling and incidental expenses which they may incur for the performance of their duties.

Articles 12(1), 17 and 21. Effective inspection of agricultural undertakings in cooperation with other public bodies. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on collaboration between the inspection services in agriculture and other public bodies. In its previous comments, the Committee had welcomed the fact that priority in inspection was given to risky sectors, such as forestry, and sectors where workers’ deaths or serious occupational diseases were very numerous. The Committee requests the Government to indicate any practical measures taken or envisaged so as to ensure that agricultural undertakings are inspected as often and as thoroughly as is necessary and to provide details on the modalities and impact of the collaboration between the inspection services and other public bodies in agriculture.

Articles 12(2) and 17. Preventive control in association with other public bodies or approved institutions. The Government indicates that, following the adoption of the new State Inspectorate Act, labour inspectors no longer participate in procedures for granting building approvals or approving the use of buildings intended for work. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the preventive control of new plant, materials or substances which appear likely to constitute a threat to health or safety has been entrusted to other government services or public institutions and whether any modalities have been established to ensure that labour inspectors remain associated in this control.

Articles 25, 26 and 27. Reporting on the system of labour inspection in agriculture. The Committee notes with interest from the Government’s report that, as a result of the implementation of an electronic Register (e-Register) system which became operational on 1 January 2010 in the area of labour relations, and is being developed in relation to occupational safety and health, the labour inspectorate will be able in the next reporting period to prepare and send to the Office an annual report with data on inspections broken down by economic activity including in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. For the time being, the annual labour inspection reports do not contain such information as the State Labour Inspectorate is a single labour inspection authority responsible for all sectors of economic activity including agriculture. The Committee requests the Government to keep the Office informed of progress made in this regard. Drawing attention to the provisions of Article 27 of the Convention, it requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged so as to ensure that the annual reports of the State Inspectorate include comprehensive information reflecting not only the number of inspection visits in agriculture but also the number of labour inspection staff carrying out such inspection visits, the agricultural undertakings liable to inspection and the number of persons working therein, the violations and penalties imposed as a result of inspection visits in agriculture, and the occupational accidents and cases of occupational diseases in agriculture.