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The Committee requests the Government to refer to the observation made under the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), regarding cooperation between the inspection services and the social partners, collaboration of experts and technicians, new labour inspection staff, the labour inspection information system and new penalties applicable to reported infringements.

Article 9(3) of the Convention. Training of labour inspectors performing duties in agriculture. The Committee notes the detailed information supplied by the Government in its report on the initial and further training provided to inspectors in the labour inspection and social security services. It notes that all labour inspectors receive general training, which may include aspects connected with agriculture, and that specific training is given with regard to the occupational hazards identified in a particular sector. However, the Government emphasizes that there is no specific training for labour inspectors responsible for identifying infringements to the legislation in agriculture, but that certain training activities are specifically intended to strengthen the labour inspectorate in relation to agriculture. In this respect the Committee notes the permanent training plan established in 2009, which includes a course entitled “Occupational hazards in agriculture. Confined spaces. Handling of plant health products. Preventive organization”. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the impact of this training on the working methods of inspectors responsible for enforcing the legislation in agriculture, and also on the number of occupational accidents and diseases in relation to the occupational hazards identified. It also requests the Government to continue to supply information on any programme or initiative aimed at strengthening the capacities of the labour inspection services in relation to agriculture.

Articles 26 and 27. Content of the annual report. The Committee notes the statistics supplied by the Government and also the information contained in the annual report on the work of the inspection services for 2008. It notes a reduction in the number of occupational accidents in agriculture between 2007 and 2008 (32,748 in 2007 compared with 31,656 in 2008). The same applies to occupational diseases caused by chemical agents (20 cases in 2007 compared with 13 in 2008). However, it appears that other occupational diseases are on the increase, particularly those caused by physical agents (134 cases in 2007 compared with 138 in 2008), those caused by biological agents (21 cases in 2007 compared with 36 in 2008), those caused by inhalation of various substances and agents (three cases in 2007 compared with 12 in 2008), skin diseases caused by various substances and agents (four cases in 2007 compared with eight in 2008) and, finally, diseases caused by carcinogenic agents (182 cases in 2007 compared with 218 in 2008). The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply detailed information on occupational accidents and diseases in agriculture and to ensure that these are included in the annual reports of the inspection services, as requested in the previous observation on this subject.