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

France

Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81) (Ratification: 1950)
Labour Inspection (Agriculture) Convention, 1969 (No. 129) (Ratification: 1972)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of 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.

The Committee notes the observations of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) on Conventions Nos 81 and 129, received on 29 August 2025, and of the Government’s response thereto. It also notes the joint observations of the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT) and of the National Union of Labour, Employment and Training (SYNTEF-CFDT) on Convention No. 81, received on 3 October 2025, as well as the Government’s response.

Articles 6 and 18 of Convention No. 81 and Articles 8 and 24 of Convention No. 129. Independence of labour inspectors and penalties for obstructing labour inspectors in the discharge of their duties. Further to its previous comments, the Committee takes note of the information in the Government’s report regarding the various remedies available when the labour inspectorate is faced, during the discharge of labour inspectors’ duties, with criticisms, disputes and incidents amounting even to threats or physical aggression. In this connection, the Committee notes that the CGT, the CFDT and the SYNTEF-CFDT report several incidents, between 2023 and 2025, including in French Guyana, where labour inspectors have been victims of intimidation or other interference in the discharge of their duties. Moreover, according to the CGT, the incidents are mounting up and the State territorial reform has worsened the situation, since pressures exerted on the labour inspectors are sometimes relayed up to the prefects under the new structure and the support shown at various levels remains insufficient. The Committee also notes the Government’s reply regarding the follow-up given to a number of incidents since 2022, including criminal matters. The Government further indicates that the Directorate-General for Labour (DGT) ensures that every incident is dealt with, and that the Minister for Labour shows support for the inspectors by bringing civil charges in the most serious cases. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the different forms of support given to the labour inspectorate in any case of obstruction which labour inspectors may encounter in the discharge of their duties, and on the follow-up given to such cases, including civil or criminal charges for insults, threats, aggression and violence against inspectors. It requests the Government to include information concerning the incidents mentioned by the CGT, the CFDT and the SYNTEF-CFDT, and to provide its comments as regards the impact of the territorial reform on these matters.

Articles 7, 10 and 11 of Convention No. 81, and Articles 9, 14 and 15 of Convention No. 129. Training and material means placed at the disposal of the inspectors. The Committee notes the observations of the CGT, the CFDT and the SYNTEF-CFDT, indicating that following the territorial reform by the State insufficient human resources, and material means are placed at the disposal of labour inspectors. According to the CFDT and the SYNTEF-CFDT, the objectives set by the DGT are not aligned with the human and material means provided, and budget cuts made to the labour inspectorate affect IT resources, individual protective gear, means of transport and reimbursement of expenses related to inspections. The CFDT and SNTEF-CFDT also report on budget cuts to the training institute of the Labour Ministry in 2025. The Committee notes the Government’s reply regarding the implementation since 2021 of a recruitment plan, for the recruitment of 420 officers over the 2023–27 period. It notes, from the information provided by the Government in respect of the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No 187), that the labour inspectorate had 1,696 inspectors in March 2023, and 1,824 in March 2025. The Government also indicates, with respect to material means, that the difficulties encountered following the State reform of territorial organization were diminishing and that an order had been issued on 6 December 2023 defining the minimum individual protective equipment that the joint secretariats-general must make available to the officers of the labour inspection system. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the measures taken to counter the above-mentioned budget cuts and their impact on the training of labour inspectors, premises, IT resources and means of transport of labour inspectors, and also to ensure the reimbursement of expenses related to inspections. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on developments regarding the recruitment of new labour inspectors.

Articles 12 and 16 of Convention No. 81 and Articles 16 and 21 of Convention No. 129. Powers of labour inspectors, and inspections as often and as thorough as necessary. The Committee notes that in response to its previous direct request concerning the application of Act No. 2018-727 of 10 August 2018, for a State that serves a trust-based society, the Government indicates that the cumulative duration of 270 inspection days over a period of three years was trialled in two regions. The “pôles Travail” labour services were excluded from the trial. The Government also indicates that the trialling was not conclusive and that it was not extended to other regions. According to the Government, it would appear that the provisions of section 32 of Act No. 2018-727 of 10 August 2018 for a State that serves a trust-based society have not had any effect on the manner in which labour inspections are conducted. The Committee notes this information, which responds to its previous request.

Article 19 of Convention No. 81 and Article 25 of Convention No. 129. Periodic reports. Further to its previous comments on the revision of IT tools, the Committee notes the Government’s indication, according to which the new SUiT application was rolled out nationally in its complete version in August 2023, and that it has been very well accepted by users, who have integrated it into their working practices. According to the Government, SUiT is the work tool used by field officers to enter data and conduct activities, while Delphes retrieves and processes collected data with a view to providing reports that can be used at departmental, regional or national level. The Committee notes this information, which responds to its previous request.

Article 21(b), (f) and (g) of Convention No. 81 and Article 27(b), (f) and (g) of Convention No. 129. Annual inspection report. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in response to its previous request, according to which the DGT again applied to the Mutualité sociale agricole in September 2024 to renew its request for access to reports of agricultural regime occupational accidents, and that exchanges had taken place to identify measures to adapt the information systems. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, due to lack of a budget, work in this regard cannot begin until 2026 at the earliest and that the DGT will contact the regulatory authorities to secure a budget. The Committee further notes that the annual report on labour inspection in France for 2023 contains statistics on the staff of the labour inspectorate. The report also contains some specific statistics on occupational accidents, including in the maritime sector, as well as on interventions related to prevention of occupational accidents and diseases, but does not appear to contain a comprehensive registry of occupational accidents and diseases, including in agriculture. The Committee nevertheless notes the Government’s indications regarding the DAT’IA tool, which analyses in real time the flow of occupational accident reports communicated by the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM) to the SUiT information system. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any new developments regarding access to the statistics of the Mutualité sociale Agricole. It requests the Government to continue to communicate the annual labour inspection reports, ensuring that they contain the information set out in Article 21(f) and (g) of Convention No. 81, and Article 27(f) and (g) of Convention No. 129.

Matters specifically relating to labour inspection in agriculture

Article 19 of Convention No. 129. Notification to labour inspectorate of occupational accidents and cases of occupational diseases in Guadeloupe. The Committee takes due note that in response to its previous comments a labour inspection-doctor was recruited in 2022 to cover the perimeter of the Antilles (Guadeloupe and Martinique), Guyana, Saint Pierre et Miquelon. The Committee also notes that the labour inspection services were informed of accident reports from the enterprises of the agricultural sector through the SUiT information system. The Committee notes this information, which responds to its previous request.