Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) - North Macedonia (Ratification: 1991)

Referring to its comments under the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), the Committee would like to draw the Government’s attention to the following points.

Article 9(3) of the Convention. Need for inspectors to have specific skills for the discharge of their duties in agricultural undertakings. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the further training available to labour inspectors in relation to the discharge of their specific duties in the agricultural sector (particularly relating to the risks inherent in the use of electrical equipment and the handling and use of chemicals). In this regard, the Committee would like to draw the Government’s attention to Paragraphs 4–7 of the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Recommendation, 1969 (No. 133), on the minimum qualifications of labour inspectors in the agricultural sector.

Article 12 of the Convention. Cooperation between the inspection services in agriculture and government services and public or approved institutions. The Committee notes the Government’s reference, in the annual report of the National Labour Inspectorate (NLI), to joint inspections with the National Agricultural Inspectorate. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the functions of the National Agricultural Inspectorate (NAI), which it understands is not part of the structures of the NLI. It further requests the Government to supply further information on the forms and modes of cooperation between the NLI and the NAI, and to provide copies of any agreements concluded.

Articles 15(1)(b) and (2), and 21 of the Convention. Transport facilities and the reimbursement of the professional travel expenses of inspectors for the inspection of agricultural undertakings. Frequency of inspections. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that labour inspectors have at their disposal all the supplies necessary to carry out their duties. The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on the technical equipment available to labour inspectors entrusted with the control of agricultural undertakings (weighing and measurement devices, etc.). With reference to its comment under Convention No. 81, the Committee requests the Government to take measures to ensure the payment of appropriate allowances to labour inspectors in agriculture for transportation and any additional costs incurred in the course of inspection visits especially to agricultural enterprises located in remote areas.

Articles 26 and 27 of the Convention. Content of the annual labour inspection report. The Committee notes that the annual report on the work of the labour inspectorate, attached to the Government’s report under Convention No. 81, contains separate information on the work of the labour inspectorate in the field of agriculture, such as the number of inspections in agriculture, etc. Referring to its comments under Convention No. 81, the Committee requests the Government to ensure that the annual inspection report contains all the information required by Article 27 (clauses (a)–(g)) in relation to labour inspection in agriculture.