Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

The Committee notes the Government’s report covering the period from 31 May 2006 to 31 May 2008, as well as the labour inspection reports for 2007 and the first half of 2008. With reference to its direct request under the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), the Committee would like to draw the Government’s attention to the following points.

Article 9, paragraph 3, of the Convention. Need for specific skills of inspectors for the discharge of their duties in agricultural undertakings. The Committee, recalling that it has been raising this issue since 2005, once again asks the Government to provide information on the further training available to labour inspectors in relation to the discharge of their specific duties in the agricultural sector (diseases, chemical hazards, technical skills, particularly relating to the risks inherent in the use of electrical equipment and the handling and use of chemicals).

Articles 17 and 19. Role of labour inspection in agriculture with respect to occupational safety and health. The Committee notes from the report of the National Labour Inspectorate for 2007 that the number of occupational accidents and fatalities in all sectors appears to have decreased between 2005 and 2007. The Committee notes with interest in this regard that from then on the agricultural sector has been treated as a priority sector by the labour inspectorate, with special emphasis on activities that pose a high risk to employees. It further notes that a specific occupational safety survey of agriculture was carried out in 2007, which identified certain problems (situations determined mostly by the financial situation of employers) and risk areas (especially working tools in stock rearing). With reference to its comments under Convention No. 81, in which it notes that a number of measures have been taken in the area of safety and health that are not especially aimed at the agricultural sector (the adoption of new legislation, the unification of competence for inspectors relating to occupational safety and health, the reinforcement of inspections, more severe sanctions, the publication of lists of employers that have violated health and safety regulations, the introduction of the “Partnership for Safe Employment” initiative). These measures would also have a positive impact on occupational health and safety in agriculture. However, noting that no information has been provided on labour inspection activities in agriculture in the fields of prevention and the dissemination of information, the Committee once again refers to Paragraph 14 of the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Recommendation, 1969 (No. 133), for examples of appropriate actions and strongly encourages the Government to implement further measures in order to develop a health and safety culture in agricultural work. It requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in this regard.

Article 27. Content of the annual labour inspection report. Referring in this respect to its comments under Convention No. 81, the Committee once again requests the Government to ensure that the annual inspection report contains the information required by this Article (clauses (a)–(g)) relating to labour inspection in agriculture.