Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

The Committee notes the Government’s indication, in its brief report received in September 2008, that it has decided to redesign the inspection form to meet the requirements established by the national legislation and the Convention. It observes that the Government’s report does not contain any information or data that would enable it to assess the level of application of the Convention in practice and that such information has not been communicated to the ILO for many years. The Committee therefore requests the Government to supply any available information and statistical data on the functioning of the labour inspection system and to send a copy of the redesigned inspection form. In the meantime, the Committee wishes, once again, to draw the Government’s attention to the following points that it raised in its previous comments.

Articles 3, paragraph 1(b); 5(a); and 14 of the Convention. Cooperation with a view to preventive action by labour officers in the field of occupational safety and health and notification of industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease. In its previous comments made on the basis of a survey showing a high frequency of occupational accidents in certain sectors, the Committee emphasized the importance of the educational role that labour officers should be encouraged to play to prevent such accidents. It also requested the Government to take the necessary measures to establish a systematic and obligatory mechanism for the recording and notification of industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease in the cases and conditions as may be prescribed by the legislation. Noting the Government’s indication that cooperation with the Legal and Health Departments will be strengthened to ensure the enforcement of legal provisions and the supply of technical information concerning occupational accidents and diseases, the Committee requests it to supply information, that is as detailed as possible, on the measures taken for that purpose, particularly with regard to the notification of such accidents and cases of disease to the inspection services. It further requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to reinforce the preventive role of labour officers and the impact of their action on the incidence of occupational accidents. The Government is also requested to supply information regarding the incorporation of the Workers’ Health Plan into the National Strategic Plan for Health (2006–10) mentioned in the Committee’s previous comments and to describe any measures taken in this respect.

Article 7, paragraph 3. Training of labour inspectors. The Committee notes the Government’s intention to seek ILO technical assistance for the training of labour officers on inspection matters. The Committee encourages it to submit a request to the ILO Subregional Office for the Caribbean so that labour officers can receive adequate training for the performance of their inspection duties in the near future. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report any developments in this regard.

Articles 19, 20 and 21. Submission of periodical reports by labour officers and publication of an annual report by the central inspection authority. With reference to its previous comments emphasizing the importance of such reports, the Committee notes that neither the regular inspection reports prepared by labour officers nor the annual report published by the head of the Labour Department have been transmitted to the ILO. The Committee is therefore bound to reiterate its request to the Government to send copies of such reports as soon as possible.