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

Labour Administration Convention, 1978 (No. 150) - Mexico (Ratification: 1982)

The Committee notes the observations of the National Union of Workers of the Federal Roads and Bridges Access and Related Services (SNTCPF), received on 1 September 2014 and 1 September 2015.

The Committee notes that the SNTCPF highlights the need for health and safety regulations concerning firedamp in the extraction of coal, shale gas, natural gas and oil. The Committee requests the Government to provide its observations in this regard.

Articles 5 and 6 of the Convention. Consultations with the social partners. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the 2014 Inspection Programme envisaged the coordination of action between employers, trade unions and workplace safety and health committees. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the action taken and the results achieved, in light of the objective pursued.

Article 10. Increase in the number of inspection posts. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the federal budget for 2012 authorized the creation of 400 new posts for federal inspectors and that the Coahuila coalmining region, which had ten inspectors in 2010, now has 25. The Committee requested the Government to specify the number of inspectors who perform safety and health supervisory duties, particularly in mines, and to provide details of the duties performed by experts (personal dictaminador), their number and geographical distribution and their areas of specialization. The Government indicates that: (i) the state of Coahuila currently has ten local labour inspectors; (ii) there are a total of 946 federal inspectors at national level, of whom 47 are assigned to the Federal Labour Delegation in the state of Coahuila; (iii) the 2014 Inspection Programme aims to increase the coverage and effectiveness of labour inspection and of labour inspectors. With regard to experts (personal dictaminador), the Government indicates that their duties include recording and examining the information received and produced for the preparation of the relevant reports; providing support for telephone, personal and written advisory services; cooperating with the groups responsible for drafting and amending official Mexican standards (NOM); participating in the evaluation of the technical competencies of the inspection units; participating in the implementation of alternative means of inspection; analysing the content of occupational safety and health (OSH) studies; and formulating replies for workplaces. The Government adds that the position of expert (dictaminador) does not require any specialization, and that it does not have information on the geographical distribution of these experts. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any measures adopted in practice to increase the number of labour inspectors responsible for supervising OSH conditions in the mining sector.