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

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Japan (Ratification: 1953)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in response to its previous comments and the detailed information contained in the annual labour standards inspection report for 2006. It also notes the comments made by the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO) on 17 September 2008, regarding the reduction of the number of inspection offices throughout the country. JTUC-RENGO emphasizes the importance of such offices in ensuring the enforcement of labour legislation through inspection visits and in providing information and advice not only to workers but also to employers. Noting that, according to the Government, the number of inspection offices has decreased from 343 to 322, the Committee would be grateful if it would supply any information that it deems useful in response to the concerns expressed by JTUC-RENGO with regard to the possible weakening of the labour inspection system.

Article 3, paragraph 1(b), of the Convention. Preventive activities of labour inspectors, such as the provision of technical information and advice. The Committee notes that the 2006 inspection report shows a high number of violations reported during periodical inspections, particularly with regard to working hours and safety requirements, and a high number of industrial accidents, mainly in manufacturing and construction. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would describe the preventive actions undertaken by labour inspectors (the issues covered, sectors of the economy targeted, etc.), and particularly the technical advisory and guidance services they provide to employers and workers concerning the most effective means of complying with the labour legislation, in conformity with Article 3, paragraph 1(b).

Article 8. Gender distribution in the labour inspection staff. In its previous comments, the Committee drew the attention of the Government to the comments sent by JTUC-RENGO in 2006 on the low proportion of women in the labour inspection staff (approximately 7 per cent) compared with the proportion of women in the workforce (44 per cent). It notes the Government’s indication that labour inspectors are recruited with sole regard to their qualifications from among applicants who have passed the recruitment examination. The Committee notes with interest that, with a view to encouraging the application of women, information on the services of and messages from women inspectors working in labour standards offices are published. In this regard, the Committee wishes to emphasize that it is highly advisable to have an adequate number of women inspectors in order to address specific issues that may be of particular concern to female workers. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, the number of women among new staff has tended to increase in recent years and it would be grateful if the Government would indicate the distribution of the inspection staff by gender in the various positions and grades. The Committee also invites the Government to examine the reasons for the low number of women in the labour inspection staff and to continue taking measures aimed at encouraging the application of women for employment as labour inspectors and at promoting their recruitment.