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

Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) - Malta (Ratification: 1988)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It expresses concern in this respect. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

Articles 26 and 27 of the Convention. Annual report on labour inspection in agriculture. The Committee notes that in reply to its previous comments on the application in law and practice of Articles 26 and 27 of the Convention, the Government merely indicates that three inspection visits were carried out in the agricultural sector in 2010 and that no irregularities were observed. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the number of inspections in the agricultural sector was rising but was still low in relation to the 2,423 workplaces inspected in all sectors covered. The Committee notes with concern that there was an obvious decline in inspection visits in 2010, their number having dropped by 80 per cent compared with 2008. The Committee also notes that the Government has provided no information on the annual labour inspection activities report for the last few years. The Committee recalls its general observation of 2010, in which it emphasized the essential importance it attaches to the publication and communication to the ILO within the prescribed time limits of an annual labour inspection report. When it is well prepared and contains all the requisite information, the annual report offers an indispensable basis for the evaluation of the results in practice of the activities of the labour inspection services and, subsequently, the determination of the means necessary to improve their effectiveness. The Committee recalls in this connection that extremely valuable guidance on the presentation and analysis of such information is to be found in the Labour Inspection Recommendation, 1947 (No. 81). The Committee requests the Government to ensure, in accordance with Article 26, that an annual report on the work of the inspection services in agriculture containing the information required by Article 27(a)–(g), is published by the central inspection authority, either as a separate report or as part of its general annual report, and that a copy is sent immediately to the International Labour Office.

Labour inspection and child labour. Since its report contains no information on the Committee’s previous comments on this matter, the Government is again asked to provide information on the activities by the labour inspectorate concerning child labour in agricultural undertakings, and on its results.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.