Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) - Norway (RATIFICATION: 1971)

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In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of the ratified Conventions on labour inspection, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 81 (labour inspection) and 129 (labour inspection in agriculture) together.

Article 14 of Convention No. 81, and Article 19 of Convention No. 129. Notification of occupational accidents and diseases to the labour inspection services. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the Labour Inspection Authority (LI) had developed an electronic system for the registration of notifications of occupational accidents and work-related diseases and requested the Government to provide further information on its functioning. The Government indicates that the system provides quality data, which are also used for the purpose of prevention and for the development of risk-based approaches to inspection. However, the Government reports that the implementation of electronic reporting of work-related diseases is facing challenges. In this respect, the Committee notes that, although the Government has an intention of offering a digital procedure for the reporting of work-related diseases by physicians, this has not yet been implemented. Regarding the reporting of accidents, in its reports for the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) and for the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187), the Government refers to the new registry system for occupational accidents, managed by Statistics Norway. The Committee notes that the new system includes statistics on accidents at work that have been reported by employers to the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) during a calendar year. The Government highlights the underreporting of both work-related diseases and injuries. It reports a series of measures aiming to increase the reporting of work-related diseases, such as the improvement of the notification form and an e-learning course for physicians about reporting. Furthermore, the Committee notes that the LI aims to reduce underreporting of injuries by simplifying the reporting to NAV. In this respect, it applies the “once only principle” according to which the employer can use a digital interface, which facilitates reporting of the same accident information to all relevant agencies at the same time. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government under Convention No. 187, according to which, the underreporting is relatively high in sectors where many workers are self-employed, for example agriculture and fishing. This is because workers who are not covered by the social security insurance system, including self-employed persons and freelancers, do not send an occupational injury report to NAV, and are therefore not included in the statistics. Regarding the development of the pilot project on joint reporting in conjunction with the NAV and the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA) that the Committee noted in its previous comments, the Government indicates that it has not progressed as planned. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to address the underreporting of cases of occupational accidents and diseases, especially in sectors occupying self-employed workers. It also requests the Government to provide information on any progress achieved with respect to the pilot project on joint reporting in conjunction with the NAV and the PSA.

Articles 20 and 21 of Convention No. 81, and Articles 26 and 27 of Convention No. 129. Annual reports on labour inspection, particularly concerning coverage of the agricultural sector. The Government indicates that agriculture is one of the prioritised industries for the LI. The Committee takes note of the detailed information and statistics provided by the Government regarding the agricultural sector (workforce, registered establishments, type of employment relationships). The Government also provides detailed statistics regarding the inspection activities undertaken in the agricultural sector for the period 2016–21. The Government indicates that most of the inspections involve risk-based targeted activities, followed by incident-related inspections (accidents, diseases or notifications) and inspection activities related to the national cross-agency effort towards undeclared work. The Committee also notes the information contained in the Government’s report on the number of reported accidents and fatalities in the sectors of agriculture, forestry, fishing and aquaculture for the period 2015–19, as well as information on the type and causes of accidents. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed information on the agriculture industry as well as other workforce sectors, and to ensure that the information required on each of the subjects listed in Article 21 of Convention No. 81 and Article 27 of Convention No. 129 is reflected in the labour inspection reports.

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In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of the ratified Conventions on labour inspection, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 81 (labour inspection) and 129 (labour inspection in agriculture) together.

The Committee notes the observations of the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), communicated with the Government’s report.

Article 14 of Convention No. 81, and Article 19 of Convention No. 129. Notification of occupational accidents and diseases to the labour inspection services. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s indication that Statistics Norway was the authority responsible for the registration of occupational accidents. It requested information on the notification of industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease to the labour inspectorate, including those of persons not covered by accident insurance, given the Government’s indication that most farmers are not covered by the insurance scheme. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the Labour Inspection Authority (LI) has developed an electronic system for the registration of notifications of occupational accidents and work related diseases, which facilitates the production of statistics. The Government also indicates that the LI is informed about occupational diseases by medical practitioners but that employers are not required by law to notify the LI about occupational diseases. The Government further states that the LI participates in a pilot project on the joint reporting of work related diseases and occupational deaths, together with the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Organization (NAV) and the Petroleum Safety Authority (PSA). In addition, the Committee notes the observations of the LO that the development of a register for recording injuries and diseases, supervised by Statistics Norway and NAV has taken a very long time. The LO further emphasized the importance of a well-functioning system for collection and recording occupational injuries and diseases. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the functioning of the electronic system for the registration of notifications of occupational accidents and work-related diseases, including the manner in which the system helps to ensure that industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease in the country are notified to the labour inspectorate. Recalling that it previously noted the Government’s indication with respect to the under-reporting of cases of occupational disease to the labour inspectorate, the Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the activities undertaken by the labour inspectorate to ensure that legal reporting obligations concerning occupational accidents and diseases are complied with, including further information on the current development of the pilot project on joint reporting in conjunction with the NAV and the PSA.

Articles 20 and 21 of Convention No. 81, and Articles 26 and 27 of Convention No. 129. Annual reports on labour inspection, particularly concerning coverage of the agricultural sector. In its previous comments, the Committee observed an absence of information in the annual labour inspection report concerning statistics on the activities of the labour inspection services in agriculture. In this respect, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that it will take measures to ensure that information or regulations needed to fulfil the obligations of the Convention are made available to the LI. The Committee notes that the 2017 annual labour inspection report, available on the web page of the LI, contains statistics on the number of inspections performed and guidance given in agriculture and forestry. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to give full effect to Articles 26 and 27 of Convention No. 129, in particular with regard to the required information listed under Article 27(a), (b), (c), (e), (f), and (g) of Convention No. 129. It further requests the Government to take measures to ensure that copies of its annual report are transmitted to the ILO within the timeframes prescribed by Article 20 of Convention No. 81 and Article 26 of Convention No. 129.

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The Committee also refers the Government to its comments under the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), in so far as they are also concerned with the application of the present Convention.

Article 19 of the Convention. Notification of occupational accidents and cases of occupational disease in agriculture. The Committee notes the Government’s indications that Statistics Norway is the authority now responsible for the registration of occupational accidents. In this regard, the Committee understands that the reporting of occupational accidents is linked to an insurance scheme but notes the Government’s indication that most farmers are not covered by this insurance scheme. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on how the labour inspectorate is informed of all occupational accidents and diseases (including those of persons not covered by accident insurance).

Articles 26 and 27. Annual reports on labour inspection in agriculture. The Committee notes the Government’s indications that there is no separate annual report on the work of the labour inspection services in agriculture, but that the Labour Inspection Authority’s annual reports contain general information on the work of the labour inspection services. The Committee is unable to find statistics on the activities of the labour inspection services in agriculture in the 2013 annual labour inspection report, communicated with the Government’s report. However, it notes the information contained in the Government’s report on the number of occupational accidents and diseases in agriculture, the number of violations detected, and the relevant measures taken (compliance orders issued, fines imposed and work stoppages ordered). Following up on its comments since 2000, the Committee would like to emphasize that information on all the subjects covered by Article 27(a)–(g) of the Convention should be included in the annual labour inspection reports. The Committee hopes that the statistical information already available and the implementation of an electronic management system for labour inspection data, referred to by the Government in its report under the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), will enable the Government to soon make progress in this regard. The Committee requests that the Government ensure that the annual report on the work of the labour inspection services in agriculture (published either as part of the general annual report, or as a separate report), contains the required information on each of the subjects listed in Article 27(a)–(g) of the Convention.

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Articles 26 and 27 of the Convention. Annual reports on labour inspection in agriculture. The Committee notes that, contrary to the Government’s indications, the annual labour inspection report for 2010 has not been attached to the Government’s report. It further notes the Government’s indication that the annual reports of the Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority contain separate information on the number of labour inspection visits in agriculture. Contrary to the Government’s indications, the annual labour inspection report for 2010 has not been attached to the Government’s report. Following up on its comments since 2000 in this regard, the Committee would like to emphasize that the information contained therein should not be limited to the number of inspection visits in agriculture, but that reports should deal with all the subjects covered by Article 27(a)–(g) of the Convention. In this context, the Committee notes that the register of workplaces used at the labour inspectorate since the mid-1990s, which contains data on inspection visits, and which it understands is shared by the different agencies entrusted with inspection functions in different areas, is expected to become a better working tool and offer more comprehensible statistics for the assessment of labour inspection activities, following further technical development in 2012. The Committee hopes that the improvement of the national register will result in the fulfilment of the reporting obligations of the Government under the abovementioned Articles. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the progress made in the publication by the central inspection authority of an annual report on the work of the labour inspection services in agriculture, either as a separate report, or as part of its general annual report, containing the information required in Article 27(a)–(g) of the Convention. It further asks the Government to regularly send these annual reports to the ILO, in accordance with Article 26 of the Convention.

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The Committee notes the comments by the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry (NHO) of September 2011, received with the Government’s report on 18 April 2012.

Articles 6, 13 18 and 24 of the Convention. Labour inspection activities in agriculture. The Committee notes the comments made by the NHO indicating that the number of inspection visits in agriculture has increased following the declaration of a collective agreement in agriculture in 2010 as being generally applicable. It notes that the inspections were aimed at controlling wage levels to prevent “social dumping”. However, only a few breaches concerning wage conditions were detected, while some general injunctions in the area of occupational safety and health (OSH) were made. The Committee also notes the information provided by the NHO that, in 2009, the Norwegian Agricultural Employers Association started a pilot project entitled “The farmer as employer (of foreign workers)”, which ended in May 2011, although the intention is to follow it up. As Norwegian agriculture consists of many very small units and the farmers often have little experience of being employers, and consequently also have little knowledge of legal and contractual matters, the objective of the project was to make the farmers more aware of their responsibilities as employers and to increase their knowledge of legal and contractual matters. According to the NHO, this should lead to better working conditions in agriculture, including in the area of OSH. The Committee also notes the information provided on the website of the National Labour Inspectorate concerning the rights and duties of migrant workers, including the terms and conditions of employment, and pay and working hours in agriculture. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the impact of the increased inspections and awareness-raising activities in collaboration with the social partners in the agricultural sector on conditions of work and the number of occupational accidents and diseases in this sector. In particular, the Committee asks the Government to provide statistics on the infringements registered, the sanctions imposed and the injunctions ordered by labour inspectors.

Articles 13 and 19. 1. Collaboration between the labour inspectorate and the social partners. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the NHO on the conclusion of a protocol by the social partners in agriculture for the conduct of an OSH campaign in agriculture, aimed at reducing the number of occupational accidents and diseases, to be implemented by the “OSH service for agriculture”. This project will be financed by the social partners in agriculture and by private actors. This project is also anchored in the “National Cooperation Forum for OSH in Agriculture” which is chaired by the Minister of Food and Agriculture. Furthermore, the Committee notes that the NHO refers to the plan to establish an OSH committee, which will be modelled on the committees already existing in forestry and fisheries, and which will begin working this year. The Committee invites the Government to provide detailed information on the above projects (activities carried out and impact of these activities on the conditions of work in agriculture and the number of occupational accidents and diseases in this sector, etc.), as well as on the contribution or participation of the labour inspectorate in this regard. Please also provide information on the mandate and composition of the “OSH service for agriculture” and the OSH committee.

2. Notification of industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease. In relation to the progress made with the establishment of a special module for the recording of occupational accidents as part of the national database on accidents and injuries, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the module is expected to be fully implemented in the near future. Furthermore, in relation to the progress made with the establishment of an electronic reporting system for occupational accidents and diseases known as “Health Net”, the Government refers to technical difficulties, but indicates that work is continuing for its establishment in collaboration with the Norwegian Medical Association and the Ministry of Health. Following up to its previous comments in this regard, the Committee also notes that the copy of the document on the mandatory quality management system, including occupational safety and health aspects, established by the Norwegian Agricultural Cooperation and client companies of agricultural undertakings, which the Government indicates as being attached to the report, has still not been provided. The Committee hopes that the Government will be able to inform the ILO in the near future of progress achieved in terms of the provision to the labour inspectorate of data on occupational accidents and diseases and its impact on activities for the prevention of occupational risks in workplaces and their results.

The Committee once again asks the Government to provide a copy of the document relating to the mandatory quality management system, including occupational health and safety aspects, established by the Norwegian Agricultural Cooperation and client companies of agricultural undertakings.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.

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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Repetition

With reference to its observation, the Committee draws attention to the following points.

Articles 26 and 27 of the Convention. Annual report. The Committee reminds the Government that, under the terms of Article 26(1), the central inspection authority shall publish an annual report on the work of the inspection services in agriculture, either as a separate report or as part of its general annual report. The Committee hopes that the Government will rapidly take measures for the publication in the next annual report of separate information on the specific activities of the labour inspection services in agriculture.

Mandatory quality management system. Noting that the copy of the document on the mandatory quality management system, including occupational safety and health aspects, established by the Norwegian Agricultural Cooperation and client companies of agricultural undertakings, which was requested by the Committee in its previous comments, has not been provided, it requests the Government to provide this document as soon as possible.

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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

Repetition

Article 19 of the Convention. Notification of industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease. As in its observation on the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), the Committee notes the establishment of a hospital accident register with a view to the registration in an electronic database of all accidents treated in Norwegian hospitals. The labour inspectorate participated in this process with a view to the establishment of a special module for the recording of industrial accidents. The Committee particularly appreciates the organization of such collaboration with a view to improving the notification and prevention of industrial accidents. The Committee also notes that, according to the Government, cases of occupational disease are still under-declared despite the obligation for medical practitioners to notify them to the labour inspectorate. The Government explains this situation by the current notification procedure which involves a paper version, which is time-consuming for medical practitioners. The Committee notes a project carried out in collaboration with the Norwegian Medical Association for the establishment of an electronic notification procedure based on the electronic patient journal and the secure electronic portal known as “Health Net”. The Committee requests the Government to keep the ILO informed of any progress achieved in terms of the provision to the labour inspectorate of data on industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease, the impact of this progress on activities for the prevention of occupational risks in workplaces and their results.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.

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

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With reference to its observation, the Committee draws attention to the following points.

Articles 26 and 27 of the Convention. Annual report. The Committee reminds the Government that, under the terms of Article 26(1), the central inspection authority shall publish an annual report on the work of the inspection services in agriculture, either as a separate report or as part of its general annual report. The Committee hopes that the Government will rapidly take measures for the publication in the next annual report of separate information on the specific activities of the labour inspection services in agriculture.

Mandatory quality management system. Noting that the copy of the document on the mandatory quality management system, including occupational safety and health aspects, established by the Norwegian Agricultural Cooperation and client companies of agricultural undertakings, which was requested by the Committee in its previous comments, has not been provided, it requests the Government to provide this document as soon as possible.

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Article 19 of the Convention. Notification of industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease. As in its observation on the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), the Committee notes with interest the establishment of a hospital accident register with a view to the registration in an electronic database of all accidents treated in Norwegian hospitals. The labour inspectorate participated in this process with a view to the establishment of a special module for the recording of industrial accidents. The Committee particularly appreciates the organization of such collaboration with a view to improving the notification and prevention of industrial accidents. The Committee also notes that, according to the Government, cases of occupational disease are still under-declared despite the obligation for medical practitioners to notify them to the labour inspectorate. The Government explains this situation by the current notification procedure which involves a paper version, which is time-consuming for medical practitioners. The Committee notes with interest a project carried out in collaboration with the Norwegian Medical Association for the establishment of an electronic notification procedure based on the electronic patient journal and the secure electronic portal known as “Health Net”. The Committee requests the Government to keep the ILO informed of any progress achieved in terms of the provision to the labour inspectorate of data on industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease, the impact of this progress on activities for the prevention of occupational risks in workplaces and their results.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.

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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous observation on the following points:

Article 19 of the Convention. Notification of occupational accidents. The Committee notes that, to remedy the under-reporting of occupational accidents, the Labour Inspection Authority is taking measures to ensure both a higher percentage of reports and better quality of the data provided. Development of the system aims at better harmonization with statistics presented at the European level. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on all progress made in this respect and also on the notification of cases of occupational disease in agricultural undertakings. The Committee again asks the Government to provide a copy of the document relating to the mandatory quality management system, including occupational health and safety aspects, established by the Norwegian Agriculture Cooperation and client companies of agricultural undertakings.

Articles 26 and 27. Communication of an annual inspection report. The Committee requests the Government to send the annual report of the Labour Inspection Authority, which was not attached to its report as announced.

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

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The Committee takes note of the Government’s report replying to its previous comments.

1. Article 3, paragraph 1(b), of the Convention. Information and technical advice to employers and workers and their organizations. The Committee notes with interest that, owing to the influx of many migrant workers and seasonal labour in recent years, particularly in agriculture, the Labour Inspection Authority has launched a campaign to secure decent wages and conditions of work for migrant workers. In particular, the Committee notes with interest that, in the course of this campaign, information on the rights and duties of workers has been produced and translated into several languages.

2. Article 13. Effective collaboration between the labour inspectorate and the social partners. With reference to an observation by the Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) to the effect that no arrangement or provision has been made to promote collaboration between the staff of the inspectorate and the social partners in agricultural activities, the Government states that a tripartite body did exist, but was dissolved a few years ago. It nevertheless points out that the Norwegian Farmers’ Union is represented in the Advisory Body for the Labour Inspection Authority and that, as such, is part of the tripartite discussions on the overall strategy for the Labour Inspection Authority’s activities. The Government further indicates that, in the course of the abovementioned campaign, the most representative organizations of workers and employers in agriculture participated in outlining activities and guidelines for carrying out inspections within this target area.

3. Article 19. Notification of occupational accidents. The Committee notes with interest that, to remedy the under-reporting of occupational accidents, the Labour Inspection Authority is taking measures to ensure both a higher percentage of reports and better quality of the data provided. Development of the system aims at better harmonization with statistics presented at the European level. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on all progress made in this respect and also on the notification of cases of occupational disease in agricultural undertakings. The Committee again asks the Government to provide a copy of the document relating to the mandatory quality management system, including occupational health and safety aspects, established by the Norwegian Agriculture Cooperation and client companies of agricultural undertakings.

4. Articles 26 and 27. Communication of an annual inspection report. The Committee requests the Government to send the annual report of the Labour Inspection Authority, which was not attached to its report as announced.

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The Committee notes the Government’s report on the application of the Convention for the period ending 31 May 2005. It refers to its observation under Convention No. 81 in relation to the Government’s replies to the points raised by the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) in February 2004 concerning the abolition of the Board of the Labour Inspection Authority and the relocation of the Directorate of Labour Inspection from the capital to Trondheim.

The Committee also notes the new comments made by LO, forwarded to the ILO by the Government with its report in October 2005, concerning shortcomings in the application of several provisions of the Convention.

1. Article 6(b) of the Convention. Provision of technical information and advice to workers. According to LO, technical information and advice is provided principally to farmers by a tripartite body Landbrukshelsen, but hardly to farm workers. Moreover, this body only covers a limited aspect of this function.

2. Article 13. Collaboration between officials of the labour inspectorate in agriculture and employers and workers, or their organizations. LO indicates that such collaboration only exists in the forestry sector through a tripartite body Skogbrukets HMS-utvalg. It regrets that no such body or provisions have been adopted to promote collaboration between labour inspection officials and the social partners for the farming sector.

3.  Article 14. Number of labour inspectors in relation to the workplaces subject to inspection. According to LO, there are clearly insufficient numbers of labour inspectors, since as much as ten years would be required to inspect all the workplaces covered by a single inspector. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the diversity of situations in the distribution of work between inspectors in the various inspection offices. Although every office has agricultural expertise, it varies from office to office whether inspectors are specially assigned for agricultural inspections. With reference to its 2003 observation in which it noted a comment by LO concerning the downsizing of the staff of labour inspection in agricultural and its consequences on the protection of workers, the Committee notes that, according to the Government, not only has there not been any reduction in inspection staff, but it is envisaged to transfer personnel from the Directorate to the regions. The Government adds that, once the relocation of the Directorate of Labour Inspection is completed, it will make every effort to comply with the legal obligations deriving from section 74 of the Act relating to worker protection and the working environment and the relevant regulations.

4. Article 19(1). Notification of occupational accidents. According to LO, there is widespread under-reporting of occupational accidents. The system of notification is not therefore effective and measures need to be taken to improve it.

5. Articles 26 and 27. Publication and content of an annual report on inspection in agriculture. LO indicates that no such report is prepared, either as a separate report or as part of a general annual inspection report. The brief information provided by the annual general report on the agricultural sector is inadequate in this respect. LO points out that it does not contain information on any of the subjects covered by points (b), (c), (d), (e) and (g) relating, respectively, to: the staff of the labour inspection service in agricultural; statistics of agricultural undertakings liable to inspection; statistics of inspection visits; statistics of violations and penalties imposed; and the causes of occupational diseases.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information in its next report on the measures adopted to: (i) improve the services of the labour inspectorate in relation to the provision of technical information and advice to workers concerning the most effective means of complying with the legal provisions (Article 6, paragraph 1(b)); (ii) promote effective collaboration between officials of the labour inspectorate and the social partners in all activities in agriculture (Article 13); (iii) improve the system for the notification of occupational accidents and cases of occupational disease with a view, for the purposes of prevention, to reflecting reliably the occupational safety and health situation (Article 19(1)); and (iv) ensure the publication and communication to the ILO by the central labour inspection authority, in the required form and within the prescribed time limits, of an annual activity report containing the required information (Articles 26 and 27).

Furthermore, the Committee requests the Government to keep the ILO informed of developments following the measures related to the relocation of the Directorate of Labour Inspection in relation to the number of inspectors in agriculture. It once again requests the Government to provide a copy of any document relating to the mandatory quality management system, including occupational health and safety aspects, established by the Norwegian Agriculture Cooperation and client companies of farms.

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The Committee notes the communication by the Government of the joint comment made by the Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions (LO) on the application of the present Convention and Convention No. 81. The Government is requested to provide in its next report to the ILO, for examination by the Committee at its next session, any information that it considers useful concerning the matters raised by the LO, together with the document requested in its 2003 observation.

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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to the comments made by the Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions (LO) of January 2001 concerning the downsizing of the staff of labour inspection in agriculture and its consequences on the working environment and the manner in which occupational safety issues are addressed in this sector. According to the Government, this reduction is a consequence of the decline in the number of farms, which are also subject to inspection in relation to occupational hazards by other labour inspector experts with competence in the various sectors.

The Government also refers to the active cooperation, through training courses and the dissemination of information on accident prevention, of the farmers’ organization and indicates the establishment by the Norwegian Agriculture Cooperation and client companies of farms of a mandatory quality management system, including occupational health and safety aspects.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide a copy of any document relating to the above quality management system and of any legal text by virtue of which health and safety issues in farms are covered by specialized inspectors outside the agricultural labour inspection services.

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The Committee notes that in comments received by the ILO in January 2001 on the Government’s report for the period ending in May 2000, the Norwegian Federation of Trade Unions (LO) expressed its concern at the recent staff downsizing which has affected the labour inspectorate’s supervisory activity in the agriculture sector, and particularly its capacity to deal with working environment issues. In the LO’s view, staff cutbacks are not a sound response to the accidents and fatalities that occur in the sector each year. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would state its position on this matter and provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to deal with the occupational safety issues referred to by the LO.

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The Committee notes the Government’s report. It notes that the annual inspection report contains no information on the subjects listed in Article 27(a), (b), (c) and (e) of the Convention. It reminds the Government that the publication of an annual report on the work of the labour inspection services containing information on all the subjects listed in this Article is an obligation stemming from the ratification of the Convention. The Committee hopes that the Government will not fail to take the necessary measures to ensure that future annual reports published by the competent authority will contain this information and that a copy of them will be sent to the ILO within the prescribed time limits.

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1. The Committee notes from the Government's report that no significant new measure has been taken in the field of agriculture since the previous report. However, the Government indicates in respect of Article 7 of the Convention, that following the reorganization of 1996 there is no longer a separate section responsible for the agricultural sector within the Directorate of Labour Inspection, since two posts have been created within the service responsible for health, the environment and safety: one responsible for supervision of agricultural machinery and the other for that of agricultural buildings.

2. The Committee reminds the Government that under Article 26, paragraphs 1 and 3, copies of the annual reports of the inspection services in agriculture, either as two separate reports, or as part of the general annual report of the inspection services, must be transmitted to the ILO within three months after their publication. The Committee notes that such a report has not been transmitted to the ILO and trusts that the Government will take the measures necessary to give effect to the abovementioned provisions in the near future and that annual reports on inspection in the field of agriculture containing all the information required under Article 27 will be sent timely to the Office.