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

Iraq

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) (Ratification: 1951)
Labour Administration Convention, 1978 (No. 150) (Ratification: 1980)

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

Labour inspection: Convention No. 81

Article 5(b) of the Convention. Conditions and modalities of collaboration with representatives of employers and workers in tripartite inspection committees. Noting the lack of information in this regard, the Committee requests once again the Government to provide information on the collaboration between labour inspectors and representatives of employers and workers in tripartite inspection committees.

Article 6. Status and conditions of service of labour inspection staff. Noting the lack of information in this regard, the Committee requests once again the Government to provide information on the conditions of service of the labour inspectors, including on their salary and benefits in comparison to public servants exercising similar functions with other government services, such as tax inspectors and police.

Articles 10 and 16. Number of labour inspectors. Frequency and thoroughness of inspection. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes that the number of labour inspectors and inspection committees have decreased, respectively, to 52 (18 in Baghdad and 34 in the governorates) and 36 (12 in Baghdad and 24 in the governorates), as of September 2024. The Committee also notes that the number of inspections was 12,730 (5,614 in Baghdad and 7,116 in the governorates) as of September 2024. The Committee further notes that a new policy on labour inspection was adopted in 2022 under the framework of an ILO project supported by the European Union. In particular, it notes that, according to the policy, there is a need to increase the number of inspectors to accommodate the large volume of projects in the country. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the reason for the decrease in the number of labour inspectors and inspection committees between 2017 and 2024, as well as information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that a sufficient number of labour inspectors is appointed, in accordance with Article 10 of the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to provide further information on the manner in which it ensures that workplaces are inspected as often and as thoroughly as is necessary to ensure the effective application of the relevant legal provisions, in conformity with Article 16 of the Convention, including data on the number of inspection visits.

Article 11(1). Equipment in local offices and transport facilities. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Labour and Vocational Training Department generally provides the necessary resources to support labour inspectors, including offices, transportation and other essentials for conducting inspection visits. The Committee takes note if this information, which addresses its previous request.

Article 11(2). Reimbursement of any travelling and incidental expenses. Noting the absence of information in this regard, the Committee requests once again the Government to indicate whether any travelling and incidental expenses, which may be necessary for the performance of their duties, are reimbursed to labour inspectors.

Labour administration: Convention No. 150

Technical assistance. The Committee takes note of the Government’s indication that certain concepts of the Convention are unfamiliar. The Committee refers the Government to the 2024 General Survey “Labour administration in a changing world of work“ and recalls that the Government can avail itself of the technical assistance of the Office in this regard.

Article 2 of the Convention. Delegation of labour administration activities. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication, in its report, that pursuant to Law No. 12 of 2010 on Non-Governmental Organisations for 2010, no activities have been delegated. The Committee takes note of this information, which addresses its previous request.

Article 4. Organization and functioning of the system of labour administration. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes that the Government provided a copy of the organizational chart of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA) and a report on the activities of all the Ministry’s bodies and departments for 2016. The Committee also notes that, according to the 2022 labour inspection policy, labour inspection activities are currently distributed among three central directorates (the Directorate of Labour and Vocational Training, the National Centre for Occupational Safety and Health, and the Directorate of Retirement and Social Security for Workers) and, as a result, there are three distinct types of inspectors (labour inspectors, occupational safety and health inspectors and social security inspectors). In this regard, the Committee notes that a new model is being considered to merge these three directorates under a single, independent administration linked to the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, with each inspector covering all subjects. The Committee requests the Government to provide up-to-date information on the organization and functioning of the labour administration bodies as well as on the measures taken to ensure that the tasks and responsibilities entrusted to these bodies are coordinated. In particular, the Committee requests the Government to include details on the organization of labour inspection services and on the implementation of the proposed reforms of the labour inspectorate envisaging a single independent administration.

Article 7. Gradual extension of the labour administration system. The Committee takes note of the Government’s indication that: (i) the inspection visits do not currently cover the agricultural sector due to an insufficient number of inspectors in the inspection division, which cannot address the specific circumstances of the enterprises in this sector, such as their remote locations; and (ii) self-employed workers who do not engage outside help and are occupied in the informal sector will be included in the new amendment to the Labour Law. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures envisaged or taken to extend the labour administration activities to agricultural workers, in conformity with Article 7(a) of the Convention. It also requests the Government to provide information on the progress made towards amending the Labour Law No. 37 of 2015 to extend its application to self-employed workers who do not engage outside help and are occupied in the informal sector.

Article 9. Coordination of the functions and responsibilities of the system of labour administration. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that there has not been any delegation of labour administration functions to actors in the private sector. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on how the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs ensures coordination with the governorates and any other body to which labour administration functions have been delegated.

Article 10. Human resources of the system of labour administration. Noting the absence of information in this regard, the Committee requests once again the Government to provide information on the number of staff working within the different labour administration services and the material means available, including office space and equipment.