Labour administration: To ensure good governance through legal compliance in Latin America. The central role of labour inspection.
This study examines the role of labour inspection in Latin America, where there is a shared history and language, as well as similar developments and common ideas on labour administration. This makes the subject amenable to a comparative approach. Within this regional context, this study examines the different characteristics of labour inspection at national level, as well as other elements common to all civil law systems.
The present document takes its point of departure from the notion that labour
inspection, with its supervisory and control functions, is a fundamental part of labour administration. Consequently, it is subject to the principles and procedures of
administrative systems, at least with regard to the power of sanction. The ILO perspective (basically, the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 [No. 81] and the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 [No. 129]) has led us to study the different aspects of the
characteristic function of labour inspection, in accordance with international precepts – namely, supervision of effective compliance with the law – but without neglecting the function of reporting and, therefore, prevention. These features render the labour inspectorate a body which not only enforces the law, but may also serve as an observer on
behalf of the administration and, in some cases, also of the courts.
inspection, with its supervisory and control functions, is a fundamental part of labour administration. Consequently, it is subject to the principles and procedures of
administrative systems, at least with regard to the power of sanction. The ILO perspective (basically, the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 [No. 81] and the Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 [No. 129]) has led us to study the different aspects of the
characteristic function of labour inspection, in accordance with international precepts – namely, supervision of effective compliance with the law – but without neglecting the function of reporting and, therefore, prevention. These features render the labour inspectorate a body which not only enforces the law, but may also serve as an observer on
behalf of the administration and, in some cases, also of the courts.