Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Lebanon (Ratification: 1962)

The Committee notes the Government’s reports, received respectively in September 2005 and October 2007, the information provided in reply to its previous comments and the texts adopted during the periods covered.

1. Article 12, paragraph 1(a), of the Convention. Right of labour inspectors to enter freely any workplace liable to inspection. Further to its previous comments in which it drew the Government’s attention to the need to establish the right of inspectors to enter freely workplaces liable to inspection at any hour of the day or night, without taking into consideration statutory working hours, the Committee notes with satisfaction that, further to its request, Decree No. 3273 of 26 June 2000 has been amended in this respect by Decree No. 16051 of 29 December 2005. Under section 1 of the new Decree, labour inspectors are now authorized, in accordance with Article 12, paragraph 1(a), of the Convention, to enter freely and without previous notice any enterprise or establishment liable to inspection during and outside normal working hours.

2. Article 7. Training of labour inspectors. The Committee notes with interest that it is planned to organize in the National Management Institute a course intended for labour inspection staff covering all the ratified international Conventions and the measures necessary for their application. The Government is requested to provide detailed information on the implementation of this initiative, on the content of the planned training programmes, the frequency at which they are to be held and the number of participants.

3. Article 10. Strengthening the numbers of men and women labour inspectors. Noting the Government’s announcement of an increase in the labour inspection staff, including those responsible for prevention and safety, with a view to being able to discharge the functions assigned to them, the Committee would be grateful to be provided with information on the number and various categories of men and women inspectors who are currently active, their geographical distribution and the new posts envisaged in the budget.

The Committee is addressing a request directly to the Government on certain points.