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

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) - Sao Tome and Principe (Ratification: 1982)

Article 3 of the Convention. Functions of the labour inspection system. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report that the General Labour Inspectorate (IGT) oversees the process of recruitment and certification of labour contracts for national and non-national workers who work or wish to work in the country. The IGT may also, along with the Social Security Inspectorate, take legal action against employers who do not make the due contributions to the National Social Security Institute for workers. The Committee notes this information, which replies to its previous request.

Article 5(a). Cooperation between the labour inspection system and the justice system. In response to its previous comment, the Committee notes the Government’s information that there is still no exchange of feedback from the prosecutors on the processing of the cases transmitted to them by labour inspectors. The Committee also notes that no information has been provided on the measures taken or envisaged to improve this cooperation, nor on outcomes of cases referred to the Public Prosecution Office. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to improve cooperation between the labour inspection system and the justice system, in particular regarding the feedback from the prosecutors on the processing of the cases transmitted to them by labour inspectors; and also requests information on the outcomes of cases referred to the Public Prosecution Office, including specific violations found and sanctions imposed.

Article 6. Conditions of services. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government that the IGT has referred for discussion in the Council of Ministers the draft decree setting out the conditions of the career scheme and the specific remuneration scale for its staff, provided in section 52(1) of the IGT Statute to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Social Affairs. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the adoption of the above-mentioned Statute, and once again requests the Government to provide information on the career scheme and remuneration scale for IGT personnel, compared to public officers exercising similar functions, such as tax inspectors.

Article 7. Recruitment conditions and training. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the paid vocational internship programme established under Decree No. 6/2010 has still not been implemented because of financial difficulties. With regard to the training, the Government indicates that it will spare no efforts to improve the working conditions of inspectors. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the progress made to ensure adequate training for labour inspectors, and on the frequency and content of the training, and the attendance at each such training session. It also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the implementation of thepaid vocational internships within the recruitment process, and to provide a copy of Decree No. 6/2010.

Articles 10 and 11. Human and material resources available to the labour inspection services. With regard to its previous comment, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that despite its commitment to increase recruitment of labour inspectors, it is hindered by the significant financial restrictions it is facing. The Government indicates that, although the ILO has collaborated by providing resources to improve on-site inspections, additional equipment is needed, particularly in terms of safety. The Government also indicates that the IGT is currently composed of the head of the Inspectorate, the head of regional inspections, five inspectors, two sub-inspectors, three inspection technicians and three inspection assistants. Noting the limited available resources, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted to ensure a sufficient number of inspectors to secure the effective discharge of the duties of the Inspectorate. It also once again requests the Government to make the necessary arrangements to provide labour inspectors with suitable personal protection equipment and communication devices in accordance with the requirements of the service. Lastly, it requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in this regard.

Article 14. Notification of industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease. The Committee notes that, in response to its previous request, the Government indicates that there are no registers of occupational diseases, as the country lacks specialized occupational health services, and therefore potential cases of occupational diseases are treated as normal diseases. The Government also indicates that the IGT has planned, for the first quarter of 2024, awareness-raising campaigns for employers to provide guidance on the reporting of industrial accidents and occupational diseases. In addition, the Government indicates that it will develop partnerships with public and private bodies, such as the main hospital, national police, civil protection services, firefighters and private security agents, so that they communicate cases of industrial accidents and occupational diseases to labour inspection. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that cases of occupational diseases are reported to labour inspection. In this respect, the Committee refers to its comment under Article 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155). The Committee also hopes that, by enabling the correct identification of occupational diseases, the Government will include statistics on cases of occupational diseases, as well as industrial accidents, in its annual labour inspection report.

Articles 20 and 21. Reports on labour inspection activities. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report on the number of labour inspectors, workplaces inspected, offences found and penalties imposed, as well as the number of industrial accidents registered by the IGT. However, the Committee notes that no information has been provided on statistics of workplaces liable to inspection and the number of workers employed therein (Article 21(c)) or on statistics of occupational diseases (Article 21(g)). The Committee also notes that no labour inspection reports have been sent to the ILO. The Committee once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the central inspection authority publishes an annual report on the work of the inspection services under its control, containing information on the items listed in Article 21(a) to (g) of the Convention, and to transmit that report to the Office in the form and within the time frame set out in Article 20.