Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) - Iceland (Ratification: 2009)

The Committee notes the Government’s first report under the Convention.

The Committee draws the Government’s attention to its comments made under the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) to the extent that they also apply to labour inspection in agriculture, and wishes to raise the following additional points:

Article 6 of the Convention. Functions of the labour inspection system. The Committee notes that, according to the Government’s report, in Iceland the labour inspection system covers the area of occupational safety and health (OSH) mainly and national legislation does not give labour inspectors any functions regarding the implementation of legislation relating to conditions of life of workers and families. The Committee requests the Government to indicate, in line with Article 6(2) of the Convention, any measures envisaged so as to progressively expand the functions of labour inspection to conditions of life of workers and their families.

Article 15. Transportation facilities and reimbursement of professional travel expenses. The Committee notes from the Government’s report, that all labour inspectors have access to cars and any travelling and incidental expenses are reimbursed by the Administration of Occupational Safety and Health (AOSH) according to the Rules on Payment of Travel Expenses for Travel on behalf of the Government, No. 1/2009. Recalling the importance of transport facilities for the effective exercise of the functions of labour inspectors in agriculture, including appropriate vehicles to reach enterprises in remote areas, the Committee asks the Government to specify the number of vehicles at the disposal of labour inspectors in agriculture, and to provide a copy of the Rules on Payment of Travel Expenses for Travel on behalf of the Government, No. 1/2009 and of the forms used for the reimbursement of professional travel expenses.

Articles 9(3) and 17. Training of labour inspectors and preventive control. The Committee notes that, pursuant to articles 50 and 51(a) of the Act on Working Environment, Health and Safety in Workplaces, No. 46/1980 as amended by Act No. 88/2008, the AOSH “shall issue licences for dangerous chemical substances to individuals and enterprises that make regular use of chemical substances or products that are classified as dangerous”, and it “shall monitor to ensure that appropriate conditions are met and that the necessary safety measures in connection with the risk of accidents have been taken”. The Committee however notes that, according to article 51 of the same Act, this provision shall not apply to licences for dangerous and protective chemical substances, rodent poisons and insecticides. The Committee recalls that, in accordance with Article 17 of the Convention, labour inspection services in agriculture must be involved in the preventive control of new plants, new materials or substances, and new methods of handling or processing products which appear likely to constitute a threat to health or safety. The Committee would therefore be grateful if the Government would indicate the legal provisions that apply to dangerous chemical substances and insecticides which are used in agriculture to ensure the preventive control referred to in Article 17 of the Convention.

Furthermore, recalling the importance of specific training for the performance of labour inspection duties in agriculture and related issues, such as the prevention of particular chemical hazards, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide detailed information (e.g. subjects, attendance, frequency and impact, etc.) on specific training on agriculture and related issues provided to labour inspectors upon their entry into service and in the course of employment to enable them to gain the technical knowledge required for the performance of their duties.

Articles 26 and 27. Preparation of an annual inspection report and contents to be covered. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that local inspection offices in the districts submit annual reports prescribed by the central authority. The Committee asks the Government to make every effort to publish and communicate to the ILO, in accordance with Article 26 of the Convention, a consolidated annual report on the work of the labour inspection services in agriculture, either as a separate report, or as part of its general annual report, containing the information required in Article 27(a) to (g) of the Convention.