Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Colombia (Ratification: 1967)

With reference to its observation, the Committee reminds the Government of its request for information on the following points.

1. Noting that the restructuring of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security was accompanied by the establishment of a special inspection, control and surveillance unit enjoying administrative and financial autonomy, but that the labour inspection services remained within the purview of the Ministry and depended in operational terms on the technical labour, employment and social security and occupational risks directorates, the Committee requested the Government to provide clarifications on the allocation of the budget for the provision of the vehicles and transport expenses required for travel by labour inspectors. The Government is once again requested to provide this information so as to enable the Committee to assess the manner in which effect is given to Article 11, paragraphs 1(b) and 2, of the Convention.

2. Noting the conclusion of a cooperation agreement between the national directorate for the prevention of accidents, a number of bodies and institutions and the Ministry of Labour with a view to improving working conditions and occupational safety in the mining sector (Article 5(a)), the Committee also requested the Government to provide information on the application of this agreement in practice in so far as the labour inspectorate was associated with it, and to indicate the measures taken in practice, where appropriate, to promote collaboration between the staff of the labour inspectorate and employers and workers or their organizations. The Committee hopes that the Government will not fail to reply to this request so as to indicate the manner in which effect is given in practice to Article 5(b).

3. Noting the information in the Government’s report concerning the conclusion of a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the Office for the Defence of the People, two institutions with the responsibility of developing, with the support of municipalities, programmes to monitor and control the application of labour and social security provisions, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the implementation of the action undertaken in accordance with this agreement, and on the role entrusted to labour inspectors for the achievement of the common objective.

4. Noting that the economic situation required, on the one hand, the freezing of recruitment of public servants and, on the other hand, adoption of the provisional measure of the recruitment of officials under contract, the Committee requests the Government to keep the ILO informed of developments in the situation with regard to the status and numbers of labour inspectors already employed and those recruited in the context of these restrictions.

5. Finally, with reference to the provisions of Act No. 100 of 1993 establishing the integrated safety system under which industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease must be notified to the bodies responsible for the management of occupational risks, the Committee requests the Government to specify the bodies in question and indicate the cases and conditions under which it is envisaged in the national legislation, in accordance with Article 14, that the labour inspectorate shall be notified of the above accidents and diseases.