Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Indonesia (Ratification: 2004)

Articles 1, 4, 10 and 11 of the Convention. Impact of decentralization and the effective functioning of the labour inspection system. Number of labour inspectors and material means placed at their disposal. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that one of the results of the decentralization of the labour inspection system was the unequal allocation of financial resources among local labour inspection services. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that, based on necessity and the lack of manpower, local civil servants may follow basic training on labour inspection to be deployed in the relevant area. The Committee also notes that, according to information provided by the ILO Country Office in Jakarta, 108 labour inspectors were appointed from existing civil servants in 2018. The Government also indicates that the Ministry of Manpower provides assistance to provincial government officials, which includes the testing of equipment for occupational safety and health (OSH) purposes. The Committee notes that while the Government’s report, submitted in 2017, places the number of labour inspectors at 1,987, the Directorate-General of Labour Inspection and OSH Development, in its report entitled “Strategy for Strengthening Labour Inspection in Indonesia”, indicates that the number of labour inspectors has declined over the past four years from 1,927 in 2016 to 1,574 in 2018, and that the budget allocation for labour inspection has decreased from year to year. That report further identified the need for additional facilities and infrastructure for labour inspectors, including adding new means of transportation and offices with adequate equipment. Recalling that labour inspectors must be appointed in sufficient numbers to secure the effective discharge of their duties, the Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that labour inspectors are appointed in sufficient numbers at all levels (national, provincial and district/city), in accordance with Article 10 of the Convention. It requests the Government to continue to provide information on the total number and geographical distribution of appointed labour inspectors (disaggregated by gender), including identifying the number of inspectors recruited from existing civil servants, and the allocation of resources to labour inspection offices by the provincial and city/district levels of government. The Committee also requests the Government to take measures to improve the material conditions of work of labour inspectors in terms of offices, equipment and transport facilities, in accordance with Article 11 of the Convention, and to provide further information regarding measures taken or envisaged in this regard.

Article 6. Conditions of service of labour inspectors. The Committee notes the indication in the “Strategy for Strengthening Labour Inspection in Indonesia” report that, in addition to limited training and professional development opportunities, the low levels of remuneration do not encourage a professional inspectorate. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the inspection staff is composed of public officials whose conditions of service are such that they are assured the stability of employment, in accordance with Article 6 of the Convention. It requests the Government to provide further information in this regard.

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