Labour Administration Convention, 1978 (No. 150) - Belgium (Ratification: 2011)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on labour inspection, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 81 (labour inspection), 129 (labour inspection in agriculture) and 150 (labour administration) together.

The Committee notes the observations of the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (CSC), the General Confederation of Liberal Trade Unions of Belgium (CGSLB) and the General Labour Federation of Belgium (FGTB) on Conventions Nos 81 and 129, received on 23 September 2025, as well as the response of the Government, received on 24 November 2025.

Labour inspection

Article 3(1) and (2) of Convention No. 81 and Article 6(1) and (2) of Convention No. 129. Measures taken with regard to workers in an irregular situation. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the indication in the Government’s report that the coordinating role of the Social Information and Research Service involves close collaboration between the various inspection services, particularly with a view to protecting the fundamental rights of all workers, including those in an irregular situation. It also notes the Government’s indications regarding the training provided to inspectors and the various actions taken by inspectors in the event of violations of migrant workers’ rights. Moreover, the Committee takes due note of the Government’s indications that the labour inspection services, including the Directorate-General for Labour Legislation Enforcement (DG-CLS), work closely with the Federal Public Service for Justice and specialized non-governmental organizations to inform migrant workers of their rights and refer them to the relevant services with a view to regularizing their situation. The Committee takes note of this information, which addresses its previous request.

Articles 3(1)(a), 10, 13 and 16 of Convention No. 81 and Articles 6(1)(a), 14, 18 and 21 of Convention No. 129. Labour inspection staff. Adequate frequency and thoroughness of inspection visits. Further to its previous comments on strengthening labour inspection, the Committee takes due note of the Government’s indication that the number of labour inspectors at the Directorate-General for the Monitoring of Occupational Welfare (DG-CBE) increased from 165 in 2022 to 203 in 2025. The Committee also notes that the Government refers to the recruitment of 33 labour inspectors in 2022 and 7 labour inspectors in 2023 for the DG-CLS labour inspectorate. With regard to cooperation between the central and regional directorates of the inspection service, the Government indicates that this cooperation is ensured through a management plan, a single, simplified chain of command and various support services. Nevertheless, the Committee notes the observations of the CSC, CGSLB, and the FGTB which consider that the number of number of labour inspectors is insufficient to compensate for departures, and that it is primordial for the Government to commit firmly to reinforcing the capacity of inspection services. In this regard, the Committee notes the response of the Government, according to which a pluriannual inspection plan has been elaborated precisely to allow the labour inspection services to accomplish their missions in the most efficient and effective way possible, and the number of investigations planned under each component of the programme is determined according to inspection capacity. The Government also indicates that this plan has been submitted to social partners in the National Labour Council and the Higher Council for Health and Safety at Work for their opinion. Noting this information, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the number of labour inspectors assigned to the DG-CLS and the DG-CBE, and on any new recruitment of labour inspectors.

Articles 20 and 21 of Convention No. 81 and Articles 26 and 27 of Convention No. 129. Preparation, publication and transmission of the annual report. Further to its previous comments, the Committee takes note of the statistics provided by the Government. Nevertheless, it notes that the last annual report of the DG-CLS is still from 2018. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the DG-CLS is committed to transmitting the latest outstanding annual reports by the end of 2025. The Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to ensure that the annual inspection reports are drafted and published in accordance with Article 20 of Convention No. 81 and Article 26 of Convention No. 129. It also requests the Government to ensure that they contain information on each of the subjects specified in Article 21 (a)–(g) of Convention No. 81 and Article 27 of Convention No. 129.

Labour administration

Article 10 of Convention No. 150. Pay conditions and training of labour administration staff. Further to its previous comments regarding the conditions of service of labour administration staff, the Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government in its various reports concerning the schemes applicable to labour administration staff in each region. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the measures taken to ensure the independence of contract employees from any improper external influences, as required by Article 10(1).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Referring to its previous comment, the Committee notes the information sent by the Government concerning the laws and regulations providing for consultation, cooperation and negotiation between the public authorities and employers’ and workers’ organizations, in accordance with Article 5 of the Convention, and assigning them various roles (such as participation in the management of unemployment benefit payments to workers), in accordance with Article 2. The Committee also notes the information concerning the procedures for coordinating the functions and responsibilities assigned to the labour administration system, in accordance with Article 4; and the monitoring of the activities of parastatal agencies responsible for particular labour administration tasks by government auditors or representatives appointed at the central and regional levels, in accordance with Article 9.

Article 10. Pay conditions and training of labour administration staff. The Committee previously noted that, according to the Government, the staff of the labour administration system do not have a special status: they either fail under the ordinary regulations governing state employees and are recruited by open competition, or are hired on ordinary employment contracts following assessment by a panel. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, in reply to its request to provide information on the differences in conditions of pay between these two categories of staff, the trend is towards progressively eliminating the disparities between them but some differences remain. According to the Government, these differences are as follows: (i) civil servants are permanent while the appointment of contract employees is for a fixed term or for an unspecified duration; (ii) prospects for pay rises are less favourable for contract employees; (iii) civil servants have the possibility of changing roles so as to work in another organization (horizontal mobility) and of promotion to a higher level on the basis of tests; (iv) more attractive pension and health insurance schemes for civil servants; (v) higher level of protection for civil servants; and (vi) social security contributions for civil servants are about 2 per cent lower. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the staff of the different services of the labour administration system, including on their status as civil servants or contract employees. Recalling that the staff of the labour administration system must have the status necessary for the effective performance of their duties (Article 10(2)), the Committee requests the Government to specify the steps taken to ensure that the status of contract employees guarantees their independence from any improper external influence, as required by Article 10(1).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

The Committee notes the Government’s first report and welcomes the detailed information it contains on the application of the Convention.

The Committee notes the information on the tasks performed by several divisions of the labour inspectorate in tackling illegal work and social fraud, and refers in this connection to its comments under the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81), in so far as they apply also to the present Convention.

Article 2 of the Convention. Laws or regulations entrusting certain activities of labour administration to employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, various roles have been assigned to the employers’ and workers’ organizations by a number of laws such as those governing the economy, bodies for the consultation and participation of workers and social elections, and by various regulations governing commissions, advisory councils or other committees. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would specify the laws and regulations concerned, and requests it to send copies of the provisions that entrust certain labour administration activities to employers’ and workers’ organizations.

Article 4. Coordination of the functions and responsibilities assigned to the labour administration system. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate how it ensures the coordination of functions in the national system of labour administration.

Article 9. Checking the activities of parastatal, regional and local agencies. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, government commissioners or representatives ascertain whether parastatal agencies responsible for certain labour administration activities are operating in accordance with national and regional legislation. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate how the government commissioners or representatives ensure that parastatal agencies operate in accordance with the law and adhere to the objectives assigned to them.

Article 10. Pay conditions and training of labour administration staff. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, the staff of the labour administration system are not governed by a special statute: they either come under the ordinary regulations governing state agents and are recruited by competition, or are appointed under ordinary work contracts following assessment by a panel; in either case they have the same conditions of work, but not as yet the same conditions of pay. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the differences in conditions of pay between the two categories of staff mentioned above, and on the training that labour administration staff receive on taking up their duties and in the course of their employment.