CMNT_TITLE

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Grenada (RATIFICATION: 1979)

Other comments on C081

Observation

Direct Request

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Legislation. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Employment Bill is currently before the Labour Advisory Board for final review and submission to the Cabinet. The Committee also notes that the Draft Occupational Safety and Health Bill will proceed to the Labour Advisory Board for final review after the Employment Bill and Labour Relations Bill are finalized. Noting that these legislative changes have been pending for many years, the Committee firmly hopes that progress will be made soon in their adoption. It also requests the Government to provide a copy of the Employment Bill and the Occupational Safety and Health Bill once they have been adopted.

Articles 3(1)(a) and (b) and 13. Preventive and enforcement action by labour officers in the field of occupational safety and health. The Committee previously noted the high frequency of occupational accidents in certain sectors and requested the Government to provide information on the preventive and enforcement action undertaken by the labour inspectors. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that during inspections, labour officers provide information to employers and workers on the need to adhere to various safety standards. The Government indicates that if a business is found not in compliance with safety standards it is given time to address the matter and after that another inspection will follow to ensure compliance, although the Government does not indicate what action it has taken responding to situations in which a second inspection identifies continued non-compliance. The Government also indicates that workshops are held in work places to sensitize staff to the importance of occupational safety and health standards. The Committee takes due note of the adoption in 2019 of the National Occupational Safety and Health Policy. In addition, the Committee notes that, according to the data contained in the annual reports for 2018 and 2019 of the National Insurance Scheme, the number of cases where benefits were paid for employment injuries increased from 491 in 2014 to 813 in 2019. The Committee also notes that according to section 10(1)(f) of the Employment Act, labour inspectors may inspect any record of accidents or occupational disease kept by the employer and require from an employer information as to the causes and circumstances relating to any accident or occupational disease that may have occurred on the employer’s premises or in the course of employment. Further, the Committee notes the powers conferred by section 10(2) of the Employment Act to the labour inspectors to make orders requiring alterations to the installation or plants and to take measures with immediate executory force in the event of imminent danger to the health or safety of the workers. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed information on the preventive actions undertaken by the labour inspectors in the field of occupational safety and health, and to include specific information on any enforcement actions initiated and penalties assessed. It also requests the Government to provide information on the practical application of section 10(1)(f) and (2) of the Employment Act. In particular, the Committee requests the Government to supply statistical information on preventive measures adopted in the event that labour inspectors had reasonable cause to believe that defects in workplaces constituted a threat to the health or safety of workers (Article 13(1)) and on preventive measures adopted with immediate executory force in the event of imminent danger to the health or safety of workers (Article 13(2)).

Article 7(3). Training of labour inspectors. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its previous request concerning the training provided to labour inspectors. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the content, frequency and duration of the training given to inspectors as well as the number of participants in each training session.