Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2010, publiée 100ème session CIT (2011)

Articles 7 and 10 of the Convention. Suitable training for labour inspectors. The Committee notes with interest the content of the training provided for labour inspectors both as initial training and on-the-job training, and the Government’s information regarding further training for labour inspectors so as to match their skills to the realities of the world of work. The Committee notes, however, that the Government does not, as the Committee asked in its previous comments, specify the number and status of participants or the impact of such training on the volume and quality of inspection activities. The Committee requests the Government to provide in its future reports detailed information on the various types of training provided for labour inspectors (purpose, participation, frequency, duration) and the impact of the training on inspection activities (volume and quality) and on relations between labour inspectors and employers or their organizations and between labour inspectors and workers or their organizations.

Article 11. Material resources of labour inspectors. The Committee notes the information sent by the Government to the effect that the lack of resources is the greatest obstacle to the efficient running of the inspection system. It also notes that the Government intends to seek international financial cooperation to reinforce the means of action of labour inspectors (computers, internet connection, transport facilities, etc.). The Committee requests the Government to indicate the steps taken to this end and the results obtained.

Articles 16 and 21(c). Register of industrial and commercial workplaces liable to inspection with a view to scheduling inspection visits. The Committee notes, in connection with its general observation of 2009 on the need for the labour inspection service to have statistics of the industrial and commercial establishments liable to inspection and the workers they employ, that because cooperation between institutions failed, it has not been possible to draw up a register of establishments. The Government indicates that the institutions that keep data refuse to forward them to the labour inspectorate. However, pending the establishment of a nation-wide database to be set up by the National Institute of Statistics, instructions have been given to all branches of the labour inspectorate to compile a list of the workplaces under their responsibility that make requests to the labour inspectorate. The list is to be appended to the annual report drawn up by each branch and sent to the central inspection authority. The Government has also said that it needs technical assistance from the Office in compiling a register of workplaces. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s efforts gradually to draw up a chart of establishments liable to labour inspection and hopes that it will nonetheless be able to take steps at the earliest possible date to set up and maintain cooperation between institutions, which is essential to the establishment of a reliable register of workplaces. The Committee asks the Government to keep the ILO informed of progress made in compiling information on workplaces liable to inspection and the workers they employ, and to send any relevant documents (circulars or instructions, list of workplaces, payrolls, etc.).

Nevertheless, the Government is also asked to take measures to establish and maintain cooperation between all public and/or private bodies and institutions holding relevant data so that a reliable register of workplaces liable to inspection can be established and serve as a basis for assessing the operation of the inspection system and determining the measures to be taken to improve it.

Articles 20 and 21. Further to its previous comments and in connection with the process referred to by the Government to draw up a chart of workplaces liable to inspection, the Committee asks the Government to ensure that the central inspection authority publishes and communicates to the ILO as soon as possible an annual report containing all the information available on the subjects listed at Article 21.