Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - New Zealand (Ratification: 1959)

The Committee notes the Government's report. It also notes the observations by the New Zealand Employers' Federation (NZEF), those by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU), and the Government's response to these observations. The observations of the NZEF relate to the activities of the Federation aimed at accident prevention and awareness-raising of employees on their rights under the New Zealand statutory minimum code. The NZCTU in its observations alleges, inter alia, that the number of labour inspectors remains inadequate; that the enforcement activities are reactive and insufficient to ensure that the rights provided for in the legislation are actually applied; that the manner in which investigations are carried out by the labour inspectorate frequently involves disclosure of the identity of the complainant; and that the number of prosecutions resulting in the imposition of penalties is small.

Taking into consideration also certain points raised in its previous comments, the Committee is addressing a direct request to the Government on the following matters: scope of the national system of labour inspection (public sector undertakings and extension to commercial undertakings); adequacy of the number of inspectors; regular versus complaint-based procedures; confidentiality of complaints; free entry of inspectors to premises; prosecution and sanctions; supervision and control by a central authority; and notification of occupational accidents and diseases.