Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Cabo Verde (Ratification: 1979)

The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending 1 September 2005 and the elements of information that it contains in reply to its previous comments, as well as the comments made by the Commercial, Industrial and Agricultural Association of Barlavento (ACIAB), the National Union of Workers of Cape Verde - Trade Union Confederation (UNTC-CS) and the Cape Verde Confederation of Free Trade Unions (CCSL), which were forwarded by the Government. It requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the following points.

1. Means of action of the labour inspectorate. The Committee notes that, in the view of the CCSL, the labour inspectorate is not functional due to the lack of material and human resources. The low number of inspectors means that it is not possible to exercise effective supervision in all the islands of the country and travel by inspectors is infrequent due to the lack of transport facilities. In this respect, the UNTC-CS considers that the Government should allocate greater resources to ensure effective labour inspection. The Government indicates that it is planning to take measures to establish new inspection services in islands where employment has grown the most over recent years. The Committee also notes that the Government is proposing to organize the recruitment by competition of new labour inspectors and their training in the near future with the support of Brazilian cooperation. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing detailed information on any further measures taken to ensure that inspectors are sufficient in number to secure the effective discharge of their duties (Article 10 of the Convention), that they have the necessary material resources and transport facilities (Article 11) and receive adequate initial and further training (Article 7).

2. Functions and duties of inspectors. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that new mediation and conciliation functions are to be attributed to labour inspectors by the draft Labour Code that is currently being adopted. It also notes that the Government plans to revise the general conditions of service of the labour inspectorate. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee is confident that the Government will ensure that the new functions which may be entrusted to labour inspectors are not such as to interfere with the effective discharge of their primary duties (Article 3, paragraph 2). Furthermore, the Committee notes the Government’s assurances that the revision of the general conditions of service of the labour inspectorate will take into account the need for provisions prohibiting inspectors from revealing, even after leaving the service, any manufacturing or commercial secrets or working processes which may come to their knowledge in the course of their duties, in accordance with Article 15(b) of the Convention.

3. Notification of cases of occupational disease. The Committee notes the view of the ACIAB that it is important for the labour inspectorate to be notified not only of industrial accidents, but also of cases of occupational disease so that it can compile statistics on occupational risks, take preventive action and ensure the appropriate coverage of the victims. The Committee notes that, in reply to its previous comments on this subject, the Government provides assurances that account will be taken, in the context of the adoption of the new Labour Code, of the need to supplement the legislation so that it establishes the obligation to notify the labour inspectorate of cases of occupational disease, in accordance with Article 14 of the Convention.

4. Publication of an annual report. The Committee notes the reports from the various inspection offices of the inspections carried out during the years 1999 to 2005, which were transmitted by the Government with its report. The Committee observes that these are reports submitted to the central inspection authority, in accordance with Article 19 of the Convention; they cannot replace the annual report which, under the terms of Article 20 of the Convention, has to be published by the central inspection authority and transmitted to the ILO within a reasonable period. With reference to the comments that it has been making for many years on this subject, the Committee trusts that the Government will take the necessary measures in the near future to ensure that an annual report on the matters set out in Article 21 of the Convention is published within the required time limits.