Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (Ratification: 1967)

Articles 20 and 21 of the Convention. Publication and communication to the ILO of an annual report on the work of the labour inspection services. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government in its report received in September 2009 in reply to the previous comments. In particular, it notes with interest the indication of the existence of a website for the National Institute for Prevention and Occupational Safety and Health (INPSASEL), on which information is published on the mandate, activities and results of the labour inspectorate. The Committee notes that in 2009 and 2010 activities were targeted at:

–      conditions of work and accommodation of workers engaged in catering (violations were noted in relation to safety and health and the obligation to notify risks, accidents and cases of occupational diseases);

–      the working conditions of men and women workers in the State of Aragua, bringing to light a significant number of cases of persons suffering from musculoskeletal injuries; a similar operation is planned in 32 other regions of the country according to the operational plan 2010;

–      risks related to health, occupational safety and the environment in relation to the transport of chemicals and hazardous gases;

–      supervision of workers’ delegates responsible for prevention in workplaces throughout the country;

–      the registration of occupational safety and health committees (9,595 in the construction and factory sectors, as well as in commercial establishments in 2009); and

–      the system for the declaration of cases of occupational diseases (1,904 cases declared in 2009).

The Committee also notes the detailed analysis of the statistics of industrial accidents over the period 2005–06, based on their geographical distribution, economic activity, occupation, material factor, part of the body injured, nature of the injury, educational level of the worker and age group. The efforts made to reduce the phenomenon of under-declaration are also reported to have allowed the reinforcement of INPSASEL policies in relation to men and women workers engaged in sectors that are traditionally excluded, namely SMEs, the informal economy, young workers, women and hitherto invisible categories of workers.

Analysis of the statistics is also reported to have enabled the Institute to reinforce and renew public policy on occupational safety and health and to reorient its programmes of action through strategic intervention projects, particularly in construction, factories and mines, with particular emphasis on activities in the petroleum sector, both with regard to its strategic importance and the high level of occupational risks which characterize it.

The Committee notes however that the above statistical analysis covers a relatively old period and reminds the Government that Articles 20 and 21 of the Convention respecting the annual report on the work of the labour inspection services determine, respectively, the time-limits and the content of such a report. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would therefore take measures to ensure that, as envisaged by Articles 20 and 21, the central labour inspection authority publishes and communicates to the ILO each year within the required time-limits an annual report containing updated information on the relevant laws and regulations, the staff of the labour inspection service, the number of workplaces liable to inspection and the number of workers employed therein, statistics of inspection visits, violations and penalties imposed, as well as of industrial accidents and occupational diseases. In view of the level of detail of the relevant data already posted on the INPSASEL website, the Government should be in a position to comply with this requirement rapidly and to provide information in its next report on the progress achieved in this respect, as well as ensuring that an annual labour inspection report is published and communicated to the ILO in the near future.