Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Sao Tome and Principe (Ratification: 1982)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

With reference to its observation, the Committee would like to raise the following additional points.

Articles 4, 10 and 11 of the Convention. Structure of the labour inspection system and human and material resources available to the labour inspection services. The Committee notes that the Government has not provided in its last report information on the progress made with the restructuring of the Ministry of Labour to make the labour inspectorate more dynamic, which the Government had announced in its 2007 report. While the Government indicates that there are currently five labour inspectors and three deputy labour inspectors entrusted with functions in the area of occupational safety and health (OSH), it does not provide the requested information on the conditions of work of labour inspectors (office facilities and equipment, etc.). The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the current structure of the labour inspection system, including any relevant texts, and, if applicable, information concerning the impact on the effectiveness of the action of the labour inspectorate following the restructuring of the labour inspection services.

It asks the Government to clarify whether there are labour inspectors entrusted with other functions than those relating to OSH (general working conditions, including child labour, etc.), or whether the five labour inspectors and three deputy labour inspectors mentioned by the Government are the only inspection staff employed at the labour inspectorate.

Please also provide detailed information on the office equipment available to the labour inspection services (number of offices, computers, printers, paper, inspection forms, etc.), as well as on the transport facilities available and/or reimbursement of travel expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of labour inspectors.

Articles 5(a) and 21(e) of the Convention. Cooperation between the labour inspection system and the judicial system. The Committee notes the Government’s reference to a meeting in 2011 between representatives of the labour inspectorate and the public prosecutor’s office (in the office of the Attorney-General of the country) to discuss possible means of cooperation. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged with a view to strengthening cooperation between the labour inspection services and the judicial system (for example by the creation of a system for the registration of judicial decisions accessible to the labour inspectorate and the judicial system) and its impact on the effectiveness of the action of the labour inspectorate, with a view to the application of the legal provisions relating to conditions of work and the protection of workers while engaged in their work.