Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Jamaica (Ratification: 1962)

Referring also to its observation under the Convention, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the following points.

1. Articles 10 and 16, 20 and 21 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest the information in the 1997 Statistical Bulletin of the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Sport that the "Factories Survey 1996/1997" aimed at determining the number and type of fabrics was completed in 1997; and that, coupled with the training of five new Industrial Safety Inspectors this resulted in a significant increase in the number of inspections carried out (118.4 per cent from 1996 to 1997 with a comparatively higher percentage increase in unregistered factories inspections) and a certain decrease in reported accidents. The Committee hopes that the Government will report on any further progress made. It also hopes that future annual reports will contain all the information requested under Article 21 (including statistics on violations and penalties imposed as previously requested).

2. Article 14. Notification of cases of occupational disease. In its previous comments the Committee noted with interest that section 43(2) and (3) of the initial draft Occupational Safety and Health Act would meet the requirement of this Article of the Convention that the labour inspectorate be notified of cases of occupational disease. The Committee asks the Government to provide indications as to any progress made in the adoption of this draft Act and on any other measures undertaken or envisaged in order to ensure that the labour inspectorate is notified of cases of occupational disease.

3. Article 18. Penalties. The Committee notes the indication in the Government's report that the penalties and fines in the current legislation are minimal and outdated, but that the new Occupational Health and Safety Act would address this problem. The Committee asks the Government to indicate what progress has been made in order to ensure that adequate penalties for violation of the legal provisions enforceable by labour inspectors and for obstructing labour inspectors in the performance of their duties are provided for by national laws or regulations and effectively enforced.

4. The Committee also asks the Government to transmit to the ILO the text of the latest version of the Factories Law as well as copies of all other laws and regulations which apply the provisions of the Convention where this has not already been done.