Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and the documentation attached, as well as the partial information provided in reply to its previous comments. With reference to the Government’s statements, which have been repeated on many occasions, to the effect that measures would be taken to prevent, in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 2, of the Convention, the conciliation duties discharged by labour inspectors interfering with their principal duties, as set out in paragraph 1 of the same Article, the Committee notes, however, that the situation has deteriorated still further in this respect. Indeed, the information provided shows that, far from having its human and material resources strengthened, the single inspection service suffers from ever more inadequacies in all respects. According to the Government’s report, the number of inspections has continued to fall due to the economic crisis, which has resulted in a freeze on the recruitment of labour inspectors and the reduction in their professional means of transport. As they cannot devote themselves to their principal duties, inspectors are therefore principally confined to discharging administrative tasks. The statistics on the activities of the inspection services provided in the annex to the Government’s report reflects this situation. Noting the request by the Government for technical assistance, particularly with a view to the publication of an annual inspection report, in accordance with Articles 20 and 21, the Committee hopes that this request will be examined favourably, and that such a report will be duly published and transmitted to the ILO in the near future.

In any event, the Government is requested to provide information on the current staffing of the labour inspectorate, the number of workplaces liable to inspection, the number of workers employed therein, with details on the manner in which workplace inspections are carried out (Article 10(a), (b) and (c)). Please also describe the means of transport available to labour inspectors for their professional travel (Article 11, paragraphs 1(a) and 2).