New series of measures designed to "reinvigorate", modernize and strengthen labour inspectorates worldwide was presented to the Committee on Employment and Social Policy (ESP) of the Governing Body of the ILO at its 297th Session held in Geneva from 2-17 November 2006. Entitled Strategies and Practice for Labour Inspection (GB.297/ESP/3), the paper recalls the key role of labour inspection in promoting decent work, preventing accidents and diseases and implementing labour standards at the workplace. It highlights the major challenges facing labour inspections services, including the growth of the informal economy, and underlines the need for the systems to be self-sustaining through adequate resource and high-quality staff allocations, practical training and protection of labour inspectors from physical abuse and attacks.

The main elements of an ILO strategy introduced in the paper received an overall positive echo from the governments', employers' and workers' groups composing the Committee. These would include the preparation of a policy paper helping countries to integrate labour inspection into national strategies, the conduct of an international meeting to further develop policy formulation and action planning, the development of guides and tools for information and training including in internet-based format and the continuous promotion of ratification and application of Conventions Nos 81 and 129. In its concluding remarks, the Committee recommended that the ILO develop, evaluate and implement a strategy, comprising the above elements, for the modernization and reinvigoration of labour inspection.

The Report of the Committee on Employment and Social Policy (GB.297/14), was approved by the Governing Body on 16 November.

Please read as well the ILO Press Release (ILO/06/52), « ILO calls for strengthening labour inspection worldwide » and the ILO Feature article « ILO calls for "ambitious reforms" in labour inspection ».

Information and resources on labour inspection can be found on the ILO SafeWork pages at www.ilo.org/labourinspection.