Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) - Uruguay (Ratification: 1973)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report, the additional information sent subsequently, the annual report of the General and Social Security Inspectorate for 2006, and Decree No. 108/007. It also notes that on 3 September 2007 the Government communicated observations made by the Inter-Union Assembly of Workers – National Convention of Workers (PIT-CNT) on the application of the Convention.

1. Articles 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, paragraph 2, and 21 of the Convention. Need to increase the strength of the inspectorate staff and improve its qualifications, and to provide it with adequate resources and transport facilities. The Committee notes that the observations by the PIT-CNT largely reiterate the comments it made in 2005. According to the PIT-CNT, although there have recently been some developments for the improvement of human and material resources, in the agricultural sector supervision is still insufficient in safety and health, and the sector as a whole is characterized by widespread non-observance of the labour legislation and a high rate of occupational accidents. The PIT-CNT stresses the need to provide the inspection services in agriculture with more staff, particularly specialists in safety and health, and adequate transport facilities for inspectors to travel to areas that are difficult to reach. In the Committee’s view, the PIT-CNT’s observations are justified, particularly as regards the specific risks to which agricultural work exposes not only workers and members of their families living at the workplace, but also the environment and neighbouring communities. Consequently, the Committee refers the Government to its comments under Convention No. 81 on the development of human resources and the condition of work of the labour inspectors, and would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the effects of such development on the volume and quality of inspection work in agricultural undertakings, particularly in the area of occupational safety and health.

2. Articles 12 and 27(c), (f) and (g). Cooperation between the inspection services and other government bodies. Further to its comments under Convention No. 81, the Committee takes note of Decree No. 108/007 requiring all employers to keep and register a number of documents that are of use in the inspectorate’s follow up of undertakings. It asks the Government to provide information on any measures taken to apply the Decree to agricultural undertakings and on any difficulties encountered.

It would also be grateful if the Government would report on the progress made in the setting up of a single window common to the tax, social security and labour inspection authorities for the registration and monitoring of undertakings, and on the impact of these developments on the agricultural sector in terms of the requirements of the Convention.

Noting the Government’s statement that the “Chameleon” project, under which any enterprises failing to comply with statutory wages will be identified, and that this will trigger the labour inspectorate’s supervisory machinery, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide informations on any developments in this respect, especially as concerns the project’s objectives in relation to the working of the labour inspection services in agriculture.

The Committee is addressing a request on other matters directly to the Government.