Labour administration, with its inspection function, plays a vital role in implementing and enforcing the legal provisions that promote gender equality.

There have been several initiatives to mainstream gender in labour inspection. The ILO works with the labour administration systems in regional countries to review tools used in labour inspection for gender gaps, build the capacity of labour inspectors to better capture and address the needs and experiences of women and men, and to promote the recruitment of female labour inspectors. For example, in Syria, the ILO is working with tripartite partners to enable labour inspectors address issues of child labour and gender discrimination in their work.

Working with statistical agencies, the ILO ensures that gender is mainstreamed in the all survey methodologies and analysis to ensure an accurate picture of the needs and experiences of women, men, girls, and boys.