Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Guyana (Ratification: 1966)

Articles 20 and 21 of the Convention. Communication and content of the annual labour inspection report. The Committee notes that the annual report for 2012 concerning the activities of the Labour and Occupational Safety and Health Department (LOSHD) of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security, attached to the Government’s report, contains information on the labour inspection activities carried out in 2012, such as the number of labour inspection visits, the number of violations detected, the subjects to which they relate and the number of cases brought to court, as well as the number of industrial accidents that have occurred. However, it notes that information such as the number of industrial and commercial workplaces liable to inspection and the number of workers employed therein (Article 21(c)), which is essential for evaluating the extent to which the Convention is applied, is not contained in the report of the LOSHD. Referring to its general observation of 2009, the Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing and updating a register of workplaces and enterprises liable to inspection and the number of workers employed therein, which would provide the central labour inspection authorities with the data that is essential in preparing the annual report. Noting from the information provided under the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129), that memoranda of understanding exist between the Ministry of Labour and several agencies conducting similar activities (such as the National Insurance Scheme, the Guyana Revenue Authority, etc.), the Committee hopes that the exchange of data with these institutions will enable the establishment of a register of workplaces that meets the assigned objectives. While welcoming the efforts made by the Government in providing the abovementioned statistical information, the Committee once again asks the Government to indicate what measures are being taken to set up a register of workplaces liable to inspection and the number of workers employed therein, with a view to the fulfilment by the central inspection authority of its obligation to publish and transmit to the ILO an annual report containing complete information on all the subjects listed in Article 21(a) to (g) of the Convention. It reminds the Government that it may avail itself of the technical assistance of the Office if it so wishes.

In this regard, the Committee draws the attention of the Government to the valuable guidance provided in Part IV of Recommendation No. 81 on the manner in which the information required by Article 21 could be presented in order to reflect usefully the labour inspectorate’s work in practice.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.