Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Hungary (Ratification: 1994)

The Committee notes the observations made by the workers’ representatives of the Tripartite National ILO Council of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, which were included in the Government’s report, and the Government’s reply to these observations.

Legislation. The Committee notes the Government's indications that Act LXXV of 1996 on labour inspection was amended several times during the reporting period. It requests the Government to provide a copy of Act LXXV of 1996 in its current version.

Articles 3(1)(b), 7, 9 and 13 of the Convention. Labour inspection functions in the area of technical information and advice. Training. Activities aimed at the prevention of industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease. Association of duly qualified technical experts and specialists. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its previous requests concerning the application of Articles 3(1)(b), 7, 9 and 13.

Articles 10 and 16. Number of labour inspectors and effectiveness of the labour inspection system. The Committee previously noted a significant decrease in the total number of labour inspectors from 696 to 538 between 2008 and 2011 (in 2011, there were 200 occupational safety and health (OSH) inspectors and 338 labour inspectors entrusted with labour matters). In this regard, the Committee notes the Government’s indications that the number of labour inspectors further decreased by about 200 during the reporting period. It notes that according to the statistics provided by the Government, the total number of labour inspectors was 401 in 2013 (that is, 149 OSH inspectors and 252 labour inspectors entrusted with labour matters). It notes that the Government indicates that this decrease is due to changes in the mandate of labour inspectors and the re-organization of the labour inspection services, and that the number of labour inspectors was determined on the basis of the duties they have to perform.

The Committee notes the reiterated observations made by the workers’ representatives of the Tripartite National ILO Council concerning the insufficient number of labour inspectors. They consider that this number is too low in comparison to the number of approximately 600,000 workplaces liable to inspection, especially in view of the number of industrial accidents, and that this compromises the efficiency of inspections, as is evidenced by the number of industrial accidents and the number of violations detected. The Committee notes that the Government indicates, in reply to these observations, that despite the decrease in the number of labour inspectors, labour inspections have become more efficient because they are now focused on the priorities as determined in the annual labour inspection plans. The Government further indicates that the increase in the number of violations detected is a result of the enhanced efficiency of labour inspections. The Committee requests the Government to provide statistical information from 2010 on the number of inspection visits carried out, the number of workplaces covered and the workers concerned by these inspections, statistics of violations detected and penalties imposed and statistics of industrial accidents and occupational diseases. Noting the Government’s indications that the number of labour inspectors was determined on the basis of the duties they have to perform, the Committee requests the Government to provide more details on the corresponding evaluation of the needs of the labour inspection system in terms of human resources.

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