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

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Guinea-Bissau (Ratification: 1977)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and the information provided in reply to its previous comments. Noting the difficulties in the application of the Convention mentioned by the Government, it draws the Government’s attention to the following points.

1. Human and financial resources necessary for the operation of a system of labour inspection. The Committee notes the rudimentary nature of the labour inspectorate, both from the point of view of human resources and material and financial resources. It notes that the General Labour Inspectorate lacks the most elementary facilities for its operation, such as electrical current, appropriately equipped premises and transport facilities. The lack of human and material resources of the inspection services is compounded, according to the Government, by the shortcomings of the general legislation respecting occupational safety and health. Noting that a draft Labour Code was submitted to the competent technical services of the ILO for examination in 1998, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the action taken with regard to the draft text.

2. ILO technical assistance and international cooperation. The Committee is grateful to the Government for the statistics provided, despite the major difficulties referred to above, particularly concerning the staff and activities of the labour inspection services, and the information concerning the recent adoption of new conditions of service of the General Labour and Social Security Inspectorate. It reminds the Government that, where the economic situation of the country does not allow the adequate implementation of the Convention, recourse to international cooperation and ILO technical assistance may help in improving its application. The Government is requested to provide information on any measures taken in this respect and on the results achieved, as well as a copy of the new conditions of service of the General Labour and Social Security Inspectorate.