Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Egypt (Ratification: 1956)

1. Monitoring of the occupational safety and health conditions of young workers. The Government indicates that child labour inspection units have been set up in all the directorates. The Committee asks the Government to provide more detailed information on these specific units, in particular with regard to the number of inspectors working therein and the results of their activities.

2. Article 8 of the Convention. The specific role of female labour inspection staff. The Government is asked to provide information on changes in the number of female labour inspection staff, as it said it would in its last report.

3. Article 21(c) and (e). Information contained in the annual inspection report. With reference to its previous observation, the Committee notes with interest the statistics communicated pursuant to Article 21 of the Convention. It notes that the Government has communicated statistics on the number of warnings issued, measures ordered and infringements reported by labour inspectors as a result of their visits. It seems, however, that inspection activities are mainly geared towards monitoring the legality of employment (approximately 60 per cent), rather than to activities aimed at monitoring conditions of work and the protection of workers while engaged in their work. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would ensure that the statistics tables relating to penalties also indicate the nature of the provisions violated.

4. Assessment of the situation concerning occupational safety and health and outlook. The Committee notes with interest the communication of detailed statistics on occupational accidents and diseases for the 2004-05 period. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate the manner in which this information has been used by the central inspection authority to develop an inspection policy aimed at reducing occupational hazards. It also asks the Government to ensure that the statistics tables on inspection activities are supplemented by an indication of the number of workplaces liable to labour inspection and the number of workers employed therein. This information is vital for evaluating the effective coverage with regard to needs.

5. Publication of the annual report. The Committee reminds the Government of its obligation to ensure that the central authority publishes the annual inspection report, in accordance with Article 20 of the Convention, and would be grateful if the Government took measures to this end and kept the Office informed of any progress made in this respect.