Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Suriname (Ratification: 1976)

The Committee notes the Government’s brief report and the information it contains in response to its previous comments. It draws the Government’s attention to the following points.

1. Initial and further training of labour inspectors. The Committee notes with interest the indications relating to training activities for labour inspectors for the period between June 2003 and September 2005. It requests the Government to specify the number of inspectors having participated in such activities, the nature and duration of the training, as well as its impact.

2. Number of inspection staff. The Committee notes with interest that the strength of the inspection staff rose from 32 in 1999 to 42 in 2005. It would be grateful to the Government if it would transmit information on the number and geographical distribution of the establishments subject to the supervision of the labour inspection service and the workers employed in such establishments (Article 10 of the Convention).

3. Notification to the labour inspectorate of cases of occupational disease. Please provide information on the measures taken to give effect to the Occupational Accidents Act (GB, 1947, No. 145) to ensure that the labour inspectorate is notified of cases of occupational disease, in accordance with Article 14 of the Convention.

4. Scope of the obligation of professional secrecy of labour inspectors. The Committee notes that the Government indicates that this aspect will be taken into account as soon as financial resources allow for the re-examination of the labour legislation. The Committee hopes that the Government will not fail to take measures to give full effect to Article 15(b) of the Convention.

5. Annual inspection report. The Committee recalls that no annual inspection report has been transmitted to the ILO since that of 1993. It notes that the Government indicates that difficulties of a technical nature have been encountered in the preparation of annual reports. The Committee recalls the importance attached to the publication by the central inspection authority, and the transmission to the ILO, of a report on the activities of the inspection services under its control in pursuance of Articles 20 and 21 of the Convention. It requests the Government to take any appropriate measures to give effect to these important provisions of the Convention and to transmit information on any developments in this regard.

6. Labour inspection and child labour. The Committee hopes that information on inspection activities in the field of child labour and on the results of such activities will be transmitted regularly.