Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Sao Tome and Principe (Ratification: 1982)

Article 6 of the Convention. Conditions of service of labour inspectors. The Committee notes that the Government has not provided in its last report further information on the plans to revise wages and reform professional careers, which the Government had announced in its 2007 report. Noting that the Committee has been raising the issue of improving salaries of labour inspectors since 2002, it would like to refer to paragraph 209 of its 2006 General Survey on labour inspection, where it is indicated that, although the Committee is aware of the severe budgetary restrictions governments often face, it is bound to emphasize the importance it places on the treatment of labour inspectors in a way that reflects the importance and specificities of their duties and that takes account of personal merit. The Committee once again expresses the hope that the Government will put in place measures to increase the wages paid to labour inspectors so as to attract and retain qualified personnel and safeguard such personnel from any undue influence. The Committee asks the Government to report on any measures taken or envisaged in this regard in its next report.

Article 14. Information on industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease. The Committee notes that the Government has not provided the requested information concerning the measures taken to ensure that the labour inspectorate is informed of industrial accidents and cases of occupational diseases, following the commitment made by the Government in its 2007 report to undertake every possible effort in this regard. The Committee once again asks the Government to provide in its next report information on the procedures introduced and the specific measures taken to ensure that the labour inspectorate is informed of industrial accidents and cases of occupational diseases.

Articles 19, 20 and 21. Reports on labour inspection activities. The Committee notes that no annual report on the work of the labour inspection services has been received by the Office. It further notes that the last statistical information on labour inspection visits (including information on recurrent violations) relates to the periods of 1985–87 and 1988–89, respectively, and that no annual report on the work of the labour inspection services within the meaning of the Convention containing information on all the subjects listed under Article 21 has ever been received by the Office. The Committee emphasized, in its general observation made in 2010 that, when well prepared, the annual report offers an indispensable basis for the evaluation of the results in practice of the activities of the labour inspection services and, subsequently, the determination of the means necessary to improve their effectiveness. The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to ensure that an annual inspection report is published and sent to the ILO, within the time limits set out in Article 20 containing the information required by Article 21(a)–(g).

The Committee asks the Government in any event to provide with its next report statistical information that is as detailed as possible (industrial and commercial places liable to inspection, number of inspections, violations detected and penalties imposed, statistics of industrial accidents and cases of occupational diseases, etc.). Noting the information provided by the Government, that inspection reports are drawn up following every inspection visit, the Committee believes that the central authority should be in a position to provide the majority of this information, and at least information on the number of inspection visits, the violations detected and legal provisions to which they relate, as well as on any follow-up measures taken.

The Committee reminds the Government that it may avail itself of ILO assistance in order to ensure that the central inspection authority fulfils its obligations under Articles 20 and 21.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.