Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) - Finland (Ratification: 1974)

Referring also to its observation under Convention No. 81, the Committee notes the Government’s report in reply to its previous comments and those made by the Central Organization of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK). It also notes the new comments made by SAK, which were forwarded by the Government in its report.

The Committee notes with interest the efforts undertaken to improve occupational safety and health at work by enacting and envisaging the adoption of relevant legislative provisions.

1. Articles 9, paragraph 3, 14, and 21 of the Convention. Weakness of labour inspection in the agriculture sector. According to the SAK: (i) no inspectors are specifically appointed to focus on inspections of agricultural workplaces; (ii) there are still too few inspectors and inspections in the agriculture sector; (iii) provisions in collective agreements relating to minimum pay and working hours are violated particularly frequently. In this regard, the Committee notes that between May 2002 and April 2004, 724 inspections were carried out in the agricultural sector, compared with 1,168 inspections during the period 2000-02. Moreover, according to the Government, there are only one or two inspectors specializing in agriculture in each inspectorate. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide an explanation for the substantial decline in the supervision of agricultural enterprises during the period of organizational and legislation change and, if it would indicate the number of agricultural workplaces liable to inspection and the numbers of workers occupied therein, as well as data on the nature of infringements reported and the resulting measures taken by labour inspectors.

It also requests the Government to describe any initial and continuous training provided or envisaged to meet the specific needs related to labour inspection in the agricultural sector.

2. Articles 25, 26 and 27. Obligations to produce a report. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, annual labour inspection reports are not drawn up on regular basis. The Government adds that the generation of final statistics relating to occupational accidents and diseases is rather slow. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to give full effect to these Articles and hopes that an annual report will soon be published and made available to the ILO.