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

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Republic of Korea (Ratification: 1992)

The Committee refers the Government to its observation and notes the information sent in response to the matters raised in the direct request of 2003.

Articles 10 and 16 of the Convention. Strength of the inspectorate and frequency of inspection visits. The Committee notes that, following an increase in the numbers of the inspectorate in 2006, the Government plans to take measures to improve the efficiency of the inspectorate as a whole, including by stepping up the frequency of visits. The Government is asked to provide information on any new measures taken to this end and on the results obtained.

Article 12, paragraph 1(a) and (b). Right for inspectors to enter workplaces freely. The Committee takes note of the Government’s statement that there are no provisions in the law determining when inspections may be carried out, but that this will be clearly stated when the legislation is next revised. The Committee hopes that the legislation will soon be supplemented to bring it in to line with the abovementioned provisions of the Convention, and that in its next report the Government will be in a position to provide information showing progress in this respect, including copies of any relevant legal provisions.

Articles 20 and 21. Publication and communication to the ILO of an annual inspection report. The Committee notes that an annual report, as prescribed in Articles 20 and 21 of the Convention, is not published separately, but that a White Paper on labour containing relevant information is published every year and detailed annual data is compiled internally. The Committee notes with interest that the information, responding to each item of Article 21, is supplied by the Government both in its report and on a CD-ROM attached thereto covering the activities of the various bodies of the Labour Department for 2004. It would be grateful if the Government would state whether the CD-ROM is circulated widely enough to be accessible by the social partners and any other concerned public or private institution and to prompt any comments and views they may have on the working of the Labour Inspectorate and on ways of making it more efficient.