A—7

APPENDIX 6.—TEXT OF THE CONVENTION CONCERNING LABOUR INSPECTION IN INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE The General Conference of the International Labour Organization, Having been convened at Geneva by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office and having met in its thirtieth session on 19 June, 1947, and Having decided upon the adoption of certain proposals with regard to the organization of labour inspection in industry and commerce, which is the fourth item on the agenda of the session, and Having determined that these proposals shall take the form of an international Convention, adopts, this eleventh day of July of the year one thousand nine hundred and fortyseven, the following Convention, which may be cited as the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947. Part I.—Labour Inspection in Industry Article 1 Each member of the International Labour Organization for which this Convention is in force shall maintain a system of labour inspection in industrial work-places. Article 2 1. The system of labour inspection in industrial workplaces shall apply to all workplaces in respect of which legal provisions relating to conditions of work and the protection of workers while engaged in their work are enforceable by labour inspectors. 2. National laws or regulations may exempt mining and transport undertakings or parts of such undertakings from the application of this Convention. Article 3 1. The functions of the system of labour inspection shall be — {a) To secure the enforcement of the legal provisions relating to conditions of work and the protection of workers while engaged in their work, such as provisions relating to hours, wages, safety, health and welfare, the employment of children and young persons, and other connected matters, in so far as such provisions are enforceable by labour inspectors ; (b) To supply technical information and advice to employers and workers concerning the most effective means of complying with the legal provisions ; (c) To bring to the notice of the competent authority defects or abuses not specifically covered by existing legal provisions. 2. Any further duties which may be entrusted to labour inspectors shall not be such as to interfere with the effective discharge of their primary duties or to prejudice in any way the authority and impartiality which are necessary to inspectors in their relations with employers and workers. Article 4 1. So far as is compatible with the administrative practice of the member, labour inspection shall be placed under the supervision and control of a central authority. 2. In the case of a federal State, the term " central authority " may mean either a federal authority or a central authority of a federated unit. Article 5 The competent authority shall make appropriate arrangements to promote — (a) Effective co-operation between the inspection services and other Government services and public or private institutions engaged in similar activities ; and (b) Collaboration between officials of the labour inspectorate and employers and workers or their organizations.

3—A 7

41