Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Ecuador (Ratification: 1975)

The Committee notes the Government's reports for the periods ending in June 1993 and June 1995, as well as the statistical data for 1991, 1992 and 1993. Although it notes that the number of inspection visits increased once again in 1993 (2,366 visits) after falling in 1992 (2,174) in comparison with 1991 (2,310), and that the Ministry of Labour employed 74 labour inspectors in the first half of 1993, the Committee does not have at its disposal sufficient information on labour inspection, and particularly on the workplaces liable to inspection and the number of workers employed therein, to be able to evaluate the effectiveness of the system. It therefore once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to include in its future annual inspection reports all the data covered by Article 21 of the Convention.

The Committee notes the Government's statement in its report ending June 1993 that severe budgetary restrictions upon the public sector make it difficult to plan a significant increase in the number of inspection personnel in the medium term. The Committee recalls that labour inspection is of fundamental importance in ensuring the application of labour standards and that it should be given the necessary priority in budgetary decisions. The Committee request the Government to inform it of any progress in this respect and to indicate how it is ensured that the number of labour inspectors is sufficient to secure the effective discharge of the duties of the inspectorate (Article 10) and that workplaces are inspected as often and as thoroughly as is necessary to ensure the effective application of the relevant labour legislation (Article 16).