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

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Malawi (Ratification: 1965)

Articles 4(1), 6, 7, 10 and 11 of the Convention. Establishment of a central authority entrusted with control and supervisory powers in the labour inspection system. Adequate human and material resources. The Committee previously noted the findings of a 2006 audit conducted by the ILO, recommending the creation of a special unit for labour inspections or the strengthening of the existing ones at the Ministry of Labour (MoL). The audit noted that there was considerable room for improvement, in particular in policy, planning, management procedures, communications, equipment and training. It noted the Government’s indications that the recommendations made following the audit remained yet to be implemented due to the delay in the functional review of the MoL. In this regard, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that its full implementation has been somewhat delayed and has been done in a phased manner due to resource constraints. The Committee further notes the Government’s statement in its report that additional ILO technical assistance has been requested for a second functional review of the MoL in light of the many developments that have taken place since the 2006 review. The Committee once again requests the Government to take all the necessary measures to secure an inspection system operating under the supervision and control of a central authority (Article 4 of the Convention) that is provided with adequate human resources in terms of both numbers and skills (Articles 6, 7 and 10) and the material conditions necessary for the exercise of its functions in relation to labour inspections (Article 11). The Committee also requests the Government to provide details on the measures taken in this regard, including with ILO technical assistance.

Articles 20 and 21. Annual report on labour inspection activities. The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report related to the number of labour inspections undertaken in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and measures taken to address violations related to child labour, and withdrawal of children and link them to appropriate services. The Committee requests the Government to take measures to ensure that future annual inspection reports contain complete information on all the subjects listed in Articles 21(a)–(g), including on the staff of the labour inspections service, statistics of workplaces liable to inspection and the number of workers employed therein, as well as statistics on industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease, and data on violations detected and penalties imposed.