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Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Croatia (RATIFICATION: 1991)

Further to its observation, the Committee wishes to raise the following points.

Article 3(1)(a) and (b) of the Convention. Coverage of the labour inspection system. The Committee notes with interest that the coverage of the labour inspection system has been extended to the conditions in which school students perform occasional work in particular as regards working hours, night work, daily and weekly rest, etc., by virtue of the new Employment Mediation and Unemployment Rights Act (OG 80/08 and 94/09) and the Ordinance on providing employment mediation services (OG 39/09). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would keep the Office informed of the results of inspection activities in this area.

Technical information and advice to employers in the area of occupational safety and health. In its previous comments, the Committee had welcomed the launching of an initiative to create a more efficient system for monitoring occupational safety and health, including an assessment of the costs of investment in the safety and health of workers in comparison to the costs of non-application of safety and health requirements. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would specify whether labour inspectors have been involved in the implementation of this initiative and provide details on its impact with regard to the observance of safety and health requirements in industrial and commercial workplaces.

Article 5(a). Effective cooperation between the inspection services and other government services and public institutions. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on cooperation between the inspection services and the Croatian Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Insurance (CIOSHI), which provides statistical data on insured persons, employment injuries and sick leave. It notes that the CIOSHI is developing a new computer application which will enable it to produce improved reports. Drawing the Government’s attention in this regard to the recommendations made in the ILO code of practice on the recording and notification of occupational accidents and diseases, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would describe the mechanism through which the labour inspectorate is notified of industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease as well as the measures taken to improve the functioning of this mechanism in practice.

The Government also refers to the need for electronic networks with other bodies, such as the bodies responsible for keeping registers of companies and the courts. With reference to its general observations of 2007 and 2009 on the importance of cooperation with the justice system and on the significance of workplace registers in order to evaluate the application of the Convention, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would keep the Office informed of any progress made in terms of facilitating the access of the labour inspectorate to the information necessary for the efficient operation of the labour inspection system.

Articles 6, 10, 11 and 16. Strengthening the staff and material resources of the labour inspectorate. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the impact of the funds invested in the labour inspectorate in terms of better working conditions and increased mobility of labour inspectors. It also notes the information provided on the new recruitment requirements introduced by the State Inspectorate Act (OG 116/08) and the training offered to labour inspectors in 2008 and 2009. It observes, however, that the number of staff has been gradually declining since 2008: 270 positions were filled in December 2008, 257 positions in December 2009 and 251 in May 2010. The Government announces an expected recruitment of 15 new inspectors in 2010, following the Civil Service Admission Plan for bodies of state administration and offices of the Government.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would keep the Office informed of the following:

• -developments in terms of the recruitment of new staff in the labour inspectorate;
• -the impact of the new recruitment requirements on the functioning of the labour inspection system;
• -the training provided to labour inspectors, in particular, the subjects, duration, attendance and impact of such training on the work of the labour inspectors.

In addition, it once again asks the Government to provide a copy of the directive defining the classification of posts and salaries of government employees, provided for in article 139(1) of the Civil Servants Act.

Articles 20 and 21. Annual report on the work of the labour inspection services. The Committee notes the detailed information provided on the activities of the labour inspectorate for 2008 and 2009. It also notes the information provided on the development of an e-register aimed at enabling the labour inspectorate (both on labour relations and occupational safety and health) to process and publish data on labour inspection. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide information on the progress made in relation to the development of an e-register.