CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the Government’s reports containing information which replies in part to its previous comments, and the annual reports of the Labour Department for 1999-2000.

Article 5 of the Convention. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on developments regarding the draft proposal on the integration of the two labour inspection systems.

Article 7. Noting the Government’s request for technical assistance from the Office in order to train young labour inspectors, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate arrangements made for this purpose and their results.

Article 8. Noting that a Woman’s Desk was created in 2001 within the Labour Department to be responsible for dealing with women’s issues at work, including sexual harassment, the Committee again asks the Government to indicate whether the labour inspectorate comprises women and, if so, whether they are to be assigned specific duties in view of the creation of the new Woman’s Desk.

Articles 10, 11 and 16. The Committee notes that in 2000, of the 246 posts planned in the labour inspectorate, only 90 have been filled and only 46 assistant labour inspectors have been appointed out of the planned 142. Noting further that the annual reports of the Labour Department point out the inadequate financial and logistic resources of the labour inspectorate, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to identify needs in these areas, so as to determine the requisite resources to make the inspection services more effective.

Articles 17 and 18. The Committee notes that the national legislation provides for fines for breaches of the legal provisions enforceable by labour inspectors and for obstructing inspectors in the performance of their duties. The Committee notes, however, that the Labour Department reports for 1998-2000 contain no statistics on the infringements recorded and penalties imposed; that the report for 2000 indicates that no employers were prosecuted but that in the course of their visits, labour inspectors gave orders for remedial measures to secure compliance with the law. The Committee therefore asks the Government to indicate whether there were no prosecutions because the remedial measures ordered were carried out to the inspectors’ satisfaction, or because the inspectors lack the material resources to ascertain whether their orders have been carried out.

Articles 20 and 21(c), (e) and (g). With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information in the 1999 and 2000 annual reports of the Labour Department. It again notes the lack of statistical information on the number of establishments subject to inspection and the number of workers employed; the violations committed and the penalties imposed; and occupational diseases. It hopes that the Government will take the necessary steps to ensure that an annual inspection report containing information on all the items listed in Article 21 is sent to the ILO within the time limits prescribed by Article 20.