Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Italy (Ratification: 1952)

1. Article 5 of the Convention. In earlier comments, the Committee referred to problems of coordination between the labour inspectorate and local health authorities, the latter having been given responsibilities relating to safety and health at work. It now notes that under legislation before the Senate many of the responsibilities in question will be shifted back to the labour inspectorate, and that this will help coordinate inspections. This appears also to answer the point made by the Petrochemical and Allied Trades Union (ASAP) that decentralising labour inspection led to uneven results: agreements between the social partners could not - in the absence of a reliable national scheme of reference - fill these gaps. The Committee hopes that the improvements looked for will follow and that the Government will supply full details.

2. Articles 20 and 21. Further to its previous requests, the Committee has noted the contents of the annual report on labour inspection for 1990, although that for 1989 was not received. It hopes that future annual reports will be published and communicated to the Office as required by the Convention. It hopes that those reports will include all available information on the matters listed in Article 21, including industrial accidents and occupational diseases.

3. Article 3 (2). The Committee notes that section 14 of Act No. 146 of 1990 imposes on the labour inspectorate responsibilities for supervising certain strike balloting. It trusts that this duty will not interfere with the effective discharge of inspectors' primary duties or prejudice the authority and impartiality necessary to inspectors in their relations with employers and workers. It hopes the Government will indicate any practical difficulties encountered in this respect.

4. Articles 16, 17 and 18. The Committee has noted the comments of the Independent Bank-workers Union (FABI), as to problems in the application and inspection of provisions on working hours and overtime in Salerno. It notes also the information subsequently provided by the Government as to the steps taken by the labour inspectorate in that respect. The Committee recalls the labour inspectorate's primary role in ensuring the effective application of relevant legal provisions and hopes the Government will continue to supply full details of any problems arising in this connection.

5. The Committee has noted also the comments of the General Confederation of Commerce, Tourism and Services (CONFCOMMERCIO).