Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and the replies to its previous comments. It would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the progress made in relation to the draft Occupational Safety and Health Act, which it indicates is under discussion by the tripartite Labour Advisory Board, and on the following points.

Labour inspection and child labour. With reference to is general observation of 1999 on the important role that should be entrusted to labour inspection in combating child labour, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that it will do its utmost to take measures so that supervision of existing legal provisions is ensured by the labour inspection. It hopes that the Government will be able to provide numerical information in its next report on the means actually allocated for this purpose and the results achieved.

Article 14 of the Convention. With reference to its previous comments, and noting the indication that labour inspectors are kept informed of industrial accidents and cases of occupational diseases, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide copies of the legal texts and forms through which such notification is made.

Article 15(b). The Government is requested to provide information on the measures which have been taken or are envisaged to provide a legal basis for ensuring that labour inspectors do not reveal, even after leaving the service, any manufacturing or commercial secrets or working processes which may come to their knowledge in the course of their duties.

Noting that in reply to its previous comments under Articles 20 and 21, the Government indicated that an Inspector-General has been appointed for the first time, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the powers entrusted to the Inspector-General and to take any necessary measures to ensure that an annual report on the labour inspection services containing the information required on the matters set out in points (a) to (g) of Article 21 is published and communicated to the ILO, in accordance with the provisions of Article 20, and to keep the ILO informed of any progress in this respect.