Labour inspection

Labour inspection is a key element of any labour administration system for ensuring the implementation of labour policies, providing feedback and allowing for a readjustment of these policies as necessary. In recent years, the importance of labour inspection in promoting decent work has been widely recognized. Yet in many countries, the changing world of work with its new employment patterns has been accompanied by reduced government interventions in the workplace.

Even where there is a general agreement on the benefits of labour inspection, the real impact of labour inspectors has often been limited, especially among vulnerable or hard-to-reach groups and in the large informal economy. The ILO is working to strengthen labour inspection systems with a view to ensuring labour law compliance through the promotion of relevant international labour standards, and technical advisory services and projects.

The labour inspection team within the ILO works with Member States to:

• assess labour inspection systems in the framework of relevant ILO standards;
• provide technical assistance and guidance on labour inspection topics to constituents;
• design and manage relevant technical programmes on labour inspection;
• undertake research on relevant topics, including innovative approaches to promote compliance with labour legislation;
• support the institutional development of labour inspection through international networks.

For more information or to reach out to our team and global network of experts, please contact the ILO’s Social Dialogue, Labour Relations and Governance of Work Branch (LABGOV) at [email protected].