Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) - Estonia (Ratification: 2005)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s first report. Since labour inspection covers all sectors of the economy without distinction, the Committee asks the Government to refer to its request under the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), with regard to subjects common to both Conventions, and also draws its attention to the following points relating to the specific functioning of labour inspection in agricultural undertakings.

Articles 6, paragraph 1(a) and (b), and 11 of the Convention. Enforcement and prevention activities in occupational safety and health in agricultural undertakings. The Committee strongly encourages the Government to take the necessary steps, in accordance with Article 11, to ensure the collaboration of duly qualified technical experts and specialists, who might help to solve problems demanding technical knowledge, in the work of labour inspection in agriculture, in such manner as may be deemed most appropriate under national conditions. The Committee requests the Government to supply detailed information on the content of legal provisions providing that labour inspectors shall be responsible for prevention and enforcement duties in agricultural undertakings, particularly in order to ensure the protection of workers against risks arising from the use of chemicals or complex machinery. It would be grateful if the Government would also provide statistics on the application in practice of these provisions and also on their impact in terms of improving the conditions of work of agricultural workers and, where appropriate, their living conditions and those of their families in agricultural undertakings.

Article 9, paragraph 3. Specific skills and training of inspectors for the performance of their duties in agricultural undertakings. While noting the information that initial and further training for labour inspectors are provided according to an annual plan, the Committee requests the Government to indicate whether training specifically geared to the exercise of their duties in agricultural undertakings, particularly concerning the monitoring of agricultural machinery and plant, the identification of specific occupational risks (mechanical or chemical) and the means to be implemented to reduce or eliminate them, is also given. If so, the Committee requests the Government to supply further details of training content and duration and the number of participants. If not, it would be grateful if the Government would take the necessary steps to this end and supply information on progress made.

Articles 26 and 27. Annual report on the work of the inspection services and working of the labour inspection system in agriculture. With reference to its comment on the application of Convention No. 81, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the need, in cases where the annual inspection report covers the functioning of the labour inspectorate in all economic sectors, to provide separately the information required by Article 27(a)–(g) of the Convention relating specifically to the functioning of labour inspection in agricultural undertakings. The Government is therefore requested to take measures to ensure that the central authority publishes and communicates to the ILO within the deadline prescribed by Article 26, either as a separate report or as part as its general annual report, an annual report on the work of the inspection services in agriculture containing the information and statistical data required by Article 27. Pending the communication of such a report, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide all available information and statistics in its report on the application of the present Convention.