Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Portugal (Ratification: 1962)

The Committee notes the detailed report provided by the Government and the information contained in the annual inspection report for 1993. It notes in particular the Government's comments concerning the observations made by the General Union of Workers (UGT) on labour inspection with reference to the work of children and young persons (Article 3, paragraph 1(a), of the Convention), the number of inspectors (Article 10) and the compilation of data on industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease, particularly in the case of victims of accidents who were working illegally (Article 14). It notes in this respect the Government's indications that the labour inspectorate gives absolute priority to labour inspection in relation to young persons and that the number of inspection visits undertaken in this respect increased considerably between 1992 (2,147) and 1994 (5,514). With regard to the number of inspectors, the Committee notes that 32 new labour inspectors should be recruited and should commence their respective training as of the beginning of 1996. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on developments in this respect.

With regard to the notification of industrial accidents, the Committee notes that the labour inspectorate has statistical data on the surveys carried out following mortal or grave accidents of which it is notified either through the compulsory communications from employers, or by other means. These communications should make it possible for the inspection services to determine the causes of the accidents and ensure that the appropriate prevention measures are adopted.

The Committee notes that, according to the information contained in the Government's report, the compilation of data on occupational diseases is the responsibility of the National Occupational Disease Insurance Fund, and not the labour inspectorate. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate how notification of cases of occupational disease to the labour inspectorate is ensured, in accordance with Article 14 of the Convention.