Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Slovakia

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) (Ratification: 2009)
Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) (Ratification: 2009)

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) and 129 (labour inspection in agriculture) together.

Article 3(2) of Convention No. 81, and Article 6(3) of Convention No. 129. Additional duties entrusted to labour inspectors. Following its previous comments on this matter, the Committee notes that, according to the 2022 annual labour inspection report of the National Labour Inspectorate (NLI), supervision with a view to detect workers in irregular situations remained one of the main objectives of the NLI in 2022. In this regard, the Committee notes the statistics contained in the 2022 annual labour inspection report of the NLI, indicating that, in 2022, 17,341 inspection visits were conducted with a view to detect employed persons in irregular situations, compared to 16,918 inspection visits carried out in 2021 in this area. The Committee also notes that, according to the same report, 1,382 persons were found to be working in irregular situations in 2022, out of which 33 violations detected were due to workers not having the required temporary residence permit. The 2022 annual labour inspection report further indicates that one of the most frequently detected violations in relation to migrant workers in irregular situations was the failure by an employer to establish a written employment relationship. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the role of labour inspectors in cases where migrant workers are found to be working in irregular situations and without the necessary permit, including information on the manner in which labour inspectors ensure the enforcement of employers’ obligations with regard to working conditions and protection of such migrant workers’ rights.

Articles 4 and 5 of Convention No. 81, and Articles 7 and 12 of Convention No. 129. Supervision by a central labour inspection authority and effective cooperation between the labour inspectorate and other government services, and collaboration with employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee notes an absence of information in response to its previous comments on the cooperation agreement between the NLI, the Confederation of Trade Unions (KOZ) and the Association of Employers’ Federations (AZZZ). The 2022 annual labour inspection report of the NLI indicates that cooperation with trade unions mainly consists in discussions with trade union representatives during inspection visits, when such trade unions are active in the inspected entity. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide further information on the conditions and modalities under which the NLI collaborates with the KOZ and AZZZ, including the impact of such collaboration in relation to the enforcement of legal provisions on the conditions of work and the protection of workers.

Articles 20 and 21 of Convention No. 81, and Articles 26 and 27 of Convention No. 129. Annual labour inspection report. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes that the annual reports on labour inspection activities are published annually on the webpage of the NLI. The Committee notes in this regard that the 2022 annual labour inspection report of the NLI still does not contain specific statistics concerning labour inspection activities in agriculture, as required by Article 27 of Convention No. 129. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure that future reports of labour inspectorate include information specific to the agricultural sector, including: (i) agricultural undertakings liable to inspection and the number of persons working therein (Article 27(c) of Convention No. 129); (ii) the number of inspection visits undertaken (Article 27(d)); (iii) the specific penalties imposed for violations (Article 27(e)); and (iv) the number of occupational accidents and diseases (Article 27(f) and (g)). The Committee also requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that annual reports are transmitted to the ILO, in accordance with Article 20(3) of Convention No. 81 and Article 26(3) of Convention No. 129.