Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) (Ratification: 1998)
Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) (Ratification: 2010)

Previous comments: observation and direct request

In order to provide a comprehensive view of issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on labour inspection, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 81 (labour inspection) and 129 (labour inspection in agriculture) together.

Article 7 of Convention No. 81 and Article 9 of Convention No. 129. Adequate training of labour inspectors. In response to the Committee’s previous comment, the Government, indicates that it is allocating the necessary resources to enable effective discharge of inspection services, including appropriate training to experienced and recently recruited labour inspectors, and has provided a copy of the agenda of a training workshop held in 2021 on labour inspection administration. While taking note of this information, the Committee requests the Government to continue to pursue its efforts to ensure that all labour inspectors, including occupational safety and health inspectors, receive appropriate training for the discharge of their duties and to provide information on the content, frequency and duration of any training given to new or recently transferred inspectors, as well as similar information with respect to training for more experienced inspectors.

Article 11 of Convention No. 81 and Article 15 of Convention No. 129. Transportation facilities. In response to the Committee’s previous comment, the Government indicates that it is allocating travelling allowances and mileage claims to labour inspectors. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that (i) all labour officers have privately owned vehicles; (ii) vehicles from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry, and Labour are made available to the various units on a need basis; and (iii) that there are transportation arrangements with two cargo vessels, to facilitate the transportation of labour officers to the Grenadines for the conduct of inspection visits.

Article 14 of Convention No. 81 and Article 19 of Convention No. 129. Notification of occupational accidents and cases of occupational disease. Following its previous comment, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that sections 5 and 6 of the Accidents and Occupational Diseases (Notification) Act, 1952, provides for notification of the labour inspectorate of cases of occupational accidents and diseases. The Committee also notes that the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act, 2017 has not been proclaimed by the Governor General. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the number and nature of occupational accidents and disease notified in practice to the labour inspectorate. It also requests the Government to provide a copy of the OSH Act, once proclaimed.

Articles 20 and 21 of Convention No. 81 and Articles 26 and 27 of Convention No. 129. Annual report on the work of the labour inspection services. The Committee notes the Government’s indication about the revisions made to the Labour Market Information System (LMIS) with assistance from the ILO Office in the Caribbean. The Government indicates that it has published the reports for 2019 and 2020 and is currently compiling data for the 2021 and 2022 reports. The Committee notes that the 2019 report has not been sent to the Office and it does not appear to be available online. The Committee requests the Government: (i) to publish the periodic reports on the activities of the labour inspectorate; (ii) to ensure they are transmitted to the ILO; and (iii) to ensure that they contain information on all the subjects listed in Article 21 of Convention No. 81 and Article 27 of Convention 129.