General guidelines for labour inspectors

• Author: International Labour Organization
• Pages: 35-43

MELIF05-2005-01-0394-1-En.doc/v2

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4. General guidelines for labour inspectors

The primary responsibility for carrying out labour inspections rests with the labour

inspectorate (see Annex 7). Considerable training is required for competent labour

inspection. The inspector will need competence in the technical aspects of forestry and

forestry work, as well as an understanding of how best to communicate the findings of the

inspection in the most helpful way. Some suggestions on appropriate training requirements

can be found in Approaches to labour inspection in forestry: Problems and solutions.

More general information on this topic can also be found in Labour inspection: A guide to

the profession (see Annex 2).

Many forestry enterprises accept and actively pursue good employer principles and

practices in workplace employment and health and safety management because the

concepts of decent work provide significant commercial and social advantages. Such

enterprises may provide innovation and leadership in forestry workplace management,

supporting labour inspectorates in the advocacy of decent work principles.

Within the context of national labour laws, labour inspectorates should explore their

ability and the strategic value in effecting improvements and equity in employment and

health and safety management practices through both their workplace compliance activities

and relationships with enterprises and workers. Consultation with enterprises and workers’

organizations on such a strategic approach and planned interventions in inspector

compliance and its management should be in good faith and consistent with the ILO

Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.

These guidelines highlight key steps that labour inspectors should consider when

organizing and implementing a labour inspection of a forestry organization. The guidelines

will also be useful for certification assessors and internal auditors who are involved in

assessing labour practices.

Guidelines for inspectors will cover:

– organizing an inspection;

– the inspection in practice;

– assessing working conditions and labour practices;

– feedback of results;

– follow-up.

4.1. Organizing an inspection

Planning

Inspection activities should be strategically planned to maximize positive decent work

outcomes and efficient use of inspectors’ resources. The inspection plan should foresee

“proactive” (individually planned) and “reactive” (on demand) inspections.

Successful inspections depend on the assistance and cooperation of managerial

representatives and workers. This can rarely be assured at a moment’s notice and advance

planning and dialogue are therefore essential. To organize and implement the labour