Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Caribbean Part of the Netherlands

Legislation. In response to its previous request concerning the Working Conditions Act of the Caribbean Netherlands, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment is currently working on adjusting the legislation and regulations related to occupational health and safety following a standstill during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the progress made in the adoption of the Working Conditions Act and once adopted, on its implementation.

Articles 3, 10, 11 and 16 of the Convention. Functioning of the labour inspection system. Human and material resources. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government that 542 labour inspections were conducted from 2021 through 2023, resulting in the issuance of 70 warnings, 107 court reports and 34 shutdowns during this period. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that the Labour Inspectorate currently has five staff members and access to the company vehicles of the Social Affairs and Employment Unit of the National Office of the Caribbean Netherlands. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the activities undertaken by the labour inspectors with regard to the enforcement of the legal provisions relating to conditions of work and the protection of workers while engaged in their work, including on the number of inspections undertaken, the violations detected and the penalties imposed.

Articles 20 and 21. Annual labour inspection reports. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government's indication that the Labour Inspectorate does not issue a separate annual report, but that the Social Affairs and Employment Unit, which oversees the Inspectorate, prepares three internal reports annually covering its activities. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted to ensure that an annual labour inspection report containing all the information outlined in Article 21(a)–(g) is prepared and transmitted to the ILO. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the publication of the annual report, in accordance with Article 20(1) of the Convention.