CMNT_TITLE

Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) - Latvia (RATIFICATION: 1994)

Other comments on C129

Observation

Direct Request

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The Committee also refers the Government to its comments under the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), in so far as they are concerned with the application of the present Convention.

Articles 6(1)(b) and 13 of the Convention and Paragraphs 2 and 14 of the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Recommendation, 1969 (No. 133). Preventive activities in the field of occupational safety and health in agriculture. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report that the State Labour Inspectorate (SLI) undertook a number of preventive surveys in the agricultural sector between 2011 and 2013, resulting in 196 orders with respect to the prevention of violations related to labour protection. The Government also indicates that the SLI undertook thematic inspections in several sectors, including agriculture. This included the inspection of 291 agricultural undertakings in 2011 and 2012, carried out in the high harvest seasons. The Government indicates that these thematic inspections not only covered compliance with the requirements of the law and regulations but also promoted awareness among employers and employees concerning the importance of occupational safety and health. These inspections revealed that while some employers were well informed regarding the relevant provisions in the area of labour protection, other employers were not. The SLI subsequently organized seminars for representatives of undertakings on occupational safety and health of workers engaged in agriculture on the results of these inspections. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on its preventive activities in agriculture, including thematic inspections and awareness-raising activities, as well as collaboration with organizations representing workers or employers in this sector. It also asks the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken in this regard.

Article 9(3). Specific training in agriculture for labour inspectors. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report that a new training programme for SLI was implemented, which comprises of basic training, followed by three additional training programmes, including training in a specific sector. The Committee notes with interest that one of the sector-specific training programmes is on agriculture, which provides in-depth training to inspectors on the specific risks in the agricultural sector, any revisions to the relevant laws and regulations in the sector, and the nature of occupational accidents in the sector. The Committee asks that the Government continue to provide information on the training provided to labour inspectors on the agricultural sector, including the number of training programmes organized and the number of inspectors who participated in these programmes.

Articles 15(b) and 21. Transport facilities for labour inspectors in agriculture and inspection visits. The Committee welcomes the Government’s indication that it has increased the number of vehicles at the disposal of labour inspectors, from 17 vehicles in 2011 to 36 vehicles by the end of 2013. However, it notes the information in the Government’s report that the number of inspections carried out in the agricultural sector decreased from 481 inspections in 2011 to 345 inspections in 2013. In light of the declining number of inspections, the Committee asks that the Government provide information on the measures taken to ensure that agricultural undertakings are inspected as often and as thoroughly as is necessary to ensure the effective application of the relevant legal provisions, in accordance with Article 21 of the Convention.

Articles 26 and 27. Annual report on labour inspection in agriculture. The Committee welcomes the information provided in the Government’s report relating to the number of inspections undertaken in agriculture, the number of agricultural undertakings liable to inspection and the number of persons working therein, the number of violations detected and the penalties imposed, as well as statistics on the number of occupational accidents (and their cause) and occupational diseases (and their cause) in the sector. However, the Committee notes that the information in the annual report of the SLI of 2012 concerning agriculture only relates to the number of occupational accidents and occupational diseases recorded in this sector. The Committee encourages the Government to consider including in future reports of the SLI further information on the activities of the labour inspection services in agriculture, including statistics on agricultural undertakings liable to inspection and the number of persons working therein (Article 27(c)), statistics on inspections visits (Article 27(d)) and the violations detected and penalties imposed (Article 27(e)).