Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Mozambique (Ratification: 1977)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report only provides very succinct information in relation to the requests previously raised by the Committee, but that the 2013 annual report of the general labour inspectorate sent with the Government’s report contains relevant information in response to some of the issues raised.

Articles 3(2), 10, 11 and 16 of the Convention. Human resources and material means, including transport facilities. Coverage of workplaces by labour inspections. The Committee notes from the 2013 annual report of the general labour inspectorate that the number of staff working at the general labour inspectorate was 135 and that in 2013, 6,872 establishments and 183,467 workers were covered by labour inspection visits. The Committee also notes the statement in the same report that the number of labour inspectors is very low in relation to the number of workplaces subject to labour inspection and the incidence of labour conflicts. It further notes from the Government’s report under this Convention that difficulties in the application of the Convention relate to the availability of transport facilities and the coverage of workplaces by labour inspections in remote areas. In this regard, the Committee also recalls that it previously noted the Government’s indications that expenses incurred by labour inspectors when using their own vehicles are not reimbursed. The Committee once again requests the Government to describe the current situation of the labour inspection services in terms of the human resources and material means available, including transport facilities to enable labour inspectors to carry out inspection visits. Recalling once again that under Article 11(2) of the Convention, the competent authority shall make the necessary arrangements to reimburse to labour inspectors any travelling and incidental expenses which may be necessary for the performance of their duties, the Committee requests the Government to take measures to this effect in the very near future and to provide relevant information in this respect.

Articles 5(a), 20 and 21. Publication, communication and content of annual reports on the activities of the labour inspection services. Establishment of a register of workplaces liable to labour inspection. The Committee notes with interest that the 2013 annual report of the general labour inspectorate contains statistical information on several of the subjects covered by Article 21 of the Convention. However, the Committee also notes that this report does not contain statistics of occupational diseases (as required by Article 21(g)), nor does it contain information on the number of workplaces liable to inspection and the workers employed therein (as required by Article 21(c)), which makes it impossible to assess the rate of coverage by the labour inspectorate. In this respect, the Committee recalls that it emphasized, in its general observation of 2009, the essential character of the availability of a register of workplaces liable to inspection that is regularly updated for the assessment by labour inspection services in relation to their scope, and the corresponding need to promote effective cooperation with other government bodies and public and private institutions that possess relevant data. The Committee requests the Government to take measures to ensure that the annual reports on labour inspection published by the central labour inspectorate contain information on all the subjects covered by Article 21, including clauses (c) and (g). In this regard, the Committee also asks the Government, with reference to its 2009 general observation under this Convention, to take measures to ensure cooperation with the other government bodies and entities possessing relevant data, in particular with a view to elaborating and regularly updating a register of workplaces liable to labour inspection, and to provide information on any steps taken in this regard.

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