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

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

The Committee also refers the Government to its comments under the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), in so far as they are concerned with the application of the present Convention.

Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Convention. Number of labour inspectors, transport facilities and reimbursement of professional travel expenses. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the Administration of Occupational Safety and Health (AOSH) owns six vehicles which are at the disposal of its 11 labour inspectors. With regard to the reimbursement of travel expenses, the Government refers to Rule No. 1/2009 on payments of travel expenses for travel on behalf of the government, Decree No. 3/2013 on domestic travel allowances for government employees and Decree No. 1/2013 on driving charges for government employees (the latter being applicable when government employees drive their own vehicles in the course of their duties). The Committee notes that these texts have not been attached to the Government’s report. The Committee further notes the Government’s statement that inspectors in the capital area have greater specialization and assist with inspections in rural regions. However, the Government also indicates that there is a need to increase the number of inspectors, as the four inspection regions are large geographically and capacity in these regions is low. The Committee requests that the Government provide information on the measures taken to ensure that the number of labour inspectors in agriculture is sufficient to secure the effective discharge of the duties of the inspectorate and that workplaces are inspected as often and as thoroughly as necessary, in accordance with Article 21 of the Convention. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of Rule No. 1/2009 on payments of travel expenses for travel on behalf of the Government, Decree No. 3/2013 on domestic travel allowances for government employees and Decree No. 1/2013 on driving charges for government employees, with its next report.

Article 9(3). Training of labour inspectors. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that all new labour inspectors engaged in inspection of agricultural undertakings go through practical training involving inspections with experienced supervisors, but that no other specific training is provided for agricultural labour inspections. The Government also indicates that, in addition to the 12-week training course for new inspectors and a mandatory annual training programme for all inspectors, the AOSH holds special courses for its labour inspectors on special issues regarding their duties. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on whether the introductory training, the annual training or the special courses held by the AOSH contain content relevant to inspections in agriculture, such as risks in livestock farming or the handling of chemicals and pesticides.

Article 17. Preventive control. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that Regulation No. 350/2014 on the use of pesticides and licences to use pesticides applies to dangerous chemical substances and insecticides which are used in agriculture. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on the role of labour inspectors in the preventive control of those substances excluded from the application of section 51 of the Act on working environment, health and safety in workplaces, specifically protective chemical substances, rodent poisons and insecticides. It also requests the Government to provide a copy of Regulation No. 350/2014 on the use of pesticides and licences to use pesticides.

Articles 26 and 27. Preparation of an annual inspection report and contents to be covered. The Committee notes that the annual report of the AOSH of 2013, published on the website of the AOSH, contains information on the number of inspections undertaken in the agricultural sector, as well as statistical information on the number of occupational accidents in this sector. However, the Committee observes that this report does not contain information on a number of subjects required under Article 27 of the Convention. Therefore, the Committee asks that the Government take the necessary measures to ensure that future reports contain full information on the activities of the labour inspection services in agriculture, including statistics on: agricultural undertakings liable to inspection and the number of persons working therein (Article 27(c)), the specific penalties imposed for violations (Article 27(e)) and the number of occupational diseases detected (Article 27(g)).