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

Iceland

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 the 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 5 of Convention No. 81 and Article 12 of Convention No. 129. Effective cooperation between the inspection services and other Government services. In reply to the Committee’s previous request, the Government indicates that according to the amendments to the Act No. 55/1980 on Working Terms and Pension Rights Insurance, which entered into force in January 2025, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour shall appoint a governmental and labour market collaboration committee to combat criminal activities in the labour market for a term of three years. This committee should be composed of representatives of various ministries, workers’ and employers’ organizations, police, customs, immigration authorities and the Authority for Occupational Safety and Health (AOSH). The task of the committee is to propose a strategy and an action plan to the Government concerning priorities and measures to combat criminal activities in the domestic labour market. In addition, the law prescribes the creation of a special cooperation platform where the police commissioner, the Iceland Revenue and Customs and the AOSH shall enter into an agreement to form a collaborative regulatory platform to combat labour market related crimes, under the leadership of AOSH. The Committee takes note of this information which addresses its previous request.

Article 6 of Convention No. 81 and Article 8 of Convention No. 129. Status of labour inspectors. In reply to the Committee’s previous request, the Government indicates that the AOSH has a certified equal pay system and strives to enhance the well-being, health and safety of its staff. The Government further indicates that the AOSH pays salaries according to the scope and nature of the job and that wages are defined in collective agreements concluded by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs with the relevant trade unions. The Government adds that care is taken to ensure that different collective agreements do not lead to unreasonable wage differences. The Committee takes note of this information which addresses its previous request.

Article 7(3) of Convention No. 81 and Article 9(3) of Convention No. 129. Training of labour inspectors. In reply to the Committee’s previous comment, the Government indicates that inspectors are not highly specialized with respect to individual professions and that before starting an inspection, the inspection team reviews the risks factors in the working environment, such as materials and chemical hazards. While taking note of this information, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures planned or taken to ensure that labour inspectors in agriculture receive adequate training for the performance of their duties (such as on risks in livestock farming or the handling of chemicals and pesticides), including the number of labour inspectors trained, the subjects covered and the impact of the training.

Articles 10 and 16 of Convention No. 81 and Articles 14 and 21 of Convention No. 129.Number of labour inspectors and inspection visits. In reply to the Committee’s previous request, the Government indicates that as of June 2024, there are 19.5 inspectors and 23 positions dedicated to machineries inspections. The Government indicates that there are 0.9 labour inspectors per 10,000 employees (0.6 in 2021). The Government also indicates that labour inspectors visited 1,212 workplaces and conducted 20,465 machinery inspections in 2023. The Committee takes note of this information which addresses its previous request.

Article 12 of Convention No. 81 and Article 16 of Convention No. 129. Right of inspectors to enter freely and without previous notice and notification of the inspector’s presence when carrying out an inspection. In reply to the Committee’s previous request, the Government indicates that inspectors carry out their duties in accordance with section 82 of the Act on Working Environment, Health and Safety in the Workplaces. Inspectors must be granted access to the workplace, with or without prior notice, along with access to documents and other records that are required to be available on site according to the law. The Government indicates that based on circumstances, inspections can be announced or unannounced. In addition, in order to observe confidentiality, inspectors never disclose whether inspections are conducted on their own initiative or based on tips. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the number of announced and unannounced inspections conducted by labour inspectors. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate whether inspectors can decide not to notify the employer or his representative on the occasion of an inspection visit, if they consider that such notification may be prejudicial to the performance of their duties, as required by Article 12(2) of the Convention.

Article 13 of Convention No. 81 and Article 18 of Convention No. 129. Measures with immediate executory force in the event of imminent danger to the health or safety of the workers. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government with regard to the instructions issued between 2018 and 2023 in relation to workplace safety, including concerning the preparation of a written safety and health plan, accessibility to work areas, safety signage, firefighting equipment, safety of machinery and equipment, and in relation to temporary construction works. The Government also indicates that work was stopped, or the machinery or equipment prohibited, in 51 cases in 2021, 82 cases in 2022 and 45 cases in 2023. The Committee takes note of this information which addresses its previous request.

Article 14 of Convention No. 81 and Article 19 of Convention No.129. Recording and notification of industrial accidents and cases of occupational disease. In reply to the Committee’s previous comment, the Government provide details on the number of occupational accidents reported to AOSH between 2018 and 2023. With regard to occupational diseases, the Government indicates that few reports have been received by AOSH with 6 diseases notified in 2021, 4 in 2022 and 3 in 2023. The Government further notes that Regulation No. 390/2023, which amended Act No. 45/2015 on accident insurance under social security, introduces a list of recognized occupational diseases in Iceland. The Government adds that the AOSH is responsible for maintaining a register of recognized occupational diseases and to provide an overview of their frequency and distribution across industries. When the Icelandic Health Insurance determines a disease as occupational, the AOSH is informed of the decision, in accordance with section 79, paragraph 4 of the Act on Working Environment, Health and Safety in Workplaces. While taking note of this information, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the number of occupational diseases notified to the AOSH each year.

Articles 20 and 21 of Convention No. 81 and Articles 26 and 27 of Convention No. 129. Publication and content of the annual report. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the annual reports of the AOSH are accessible on the agency’s website, providing information on on-site inspections, digital communication, machinery inspections and data on workplace accidents. Information about laws and regulations are also available on the website. The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains information on the number of employed people and the number of occupational diseases. The Committee requests the Government to ensure that the labour inspection reports include all information listed on Article 21 of Convention No. 81 and Article 27 of Convention No. 129, in particular in relation to the violations and penalties imposed (Article 21(e) of Convention No. 81 and Article 27(e) of Convention No. 129) and to ensure that these reports are transmitted to the ILO in accordance with Article 20(3) of Convention No. 81 and Article 26(3) of Convention No. 129.

Matters specifically relating to labour inspection in agriculture

Article 17 of Convention No. 129. Preventive control. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that during inspections in the agricultural sector, instructions regarding material and chemical hazards are given to employers, such as in relation to the lack of safety data sheets and of personal protective equipment, insufficient labelling of chemical cabinets and storage of materials where leaks could occur. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the preventive measures taken by labour inspections in relation to new plant, new materials or substances and new methods of handling or processing products which appear likely to constitute a threat to health or safety.