Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Slovakia

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) (Ratification: 2009)
Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) (Ratification: 2009)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on labour inspection, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 81 (labour inspection and 129 (labour inspection in agriculture together.

Articles 4, 5(b) and 19 of Convention No. 81, and Articles 7, 12, and 25 of Convention No. 129. Supervision by a central labour inspection authority and effective cooperation between the labour inspectorate and other government services. Periodic reports to the central labour inspection authority. The Committee notes the Government’s indication, in reply to its previous request, that labour inspections on occupational safety and health (OSH) are also carried out by offices of the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, regional offices of public health, the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family as well as the labour inspectorate. The Committee also notes the information in the 2017 Report on the State of Work Protection, available on the website of the National Labour Inspectorate (NLI), on the broad cooperation between the labour inspectorate and other government authorities in inspections or investigations, exchange of information and research. The 2017 Report indicates that, in 2017, 11,036 inspections focused on OSH, detected a total of 34,710 violations, but does not indicate if this includes the OSH inspections performed by other bodies. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that information on OSH inspections performed by other bodies is sent to the NLI and reflected in annual labour inspection reports. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged by the NLI to ensure coordination and cooperation between the different institutions performing OSH inspections.

Article 6 of Convention No. 81, and Article 8 of Convention No. 129. Status and conditions of service of labour inspectors. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government, in reply to its previous request regarding the number of labour inspectors engaged as temporary public servants (18 out of 318 inspectors). It notes the Government’s indication that most temporary inspectors are engaged to replace permanent employees on maternity or parental leave for a short period of time.

Articles 20 and 21 of Convention No. 81, and Articles 26 and 27 of Convention No. 129. Annual inspection report. The Committee takes due note of the statistical data on the agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors provided by the Government, in response to the Committee’s previous request. The Committee notes, however, that the annual report on the activities of the labour inspectorate has not been communicated since 2014. It further notes that the 2017 Report available on the website of the NLI does not contain the full information on the activities of the labour inspection services in agriculture, as required by Article 27 of Convention No. 129. Therefore, the Committee requests that the Government take the necessary measures to ensure that future reports contain full information on the activities of the labour inspection services in agriculture, including statistics on: agricultural undertakings liable to inspection and the number of persons working therein (Article 27(c) of Convention No. 129), the number of inspection visits undertaken (Article 27(d)), the specific penalties imposed for violations (Article 27(e)) and the number of occupational accidents and diseases (Article 27(f) and (g)). The Committee also requests the Government to ensure that annual reports are transmitted to the ILO.