Labour administration and inspection

Labour inspection is a key element of any labour administration system for enduring the implementation of labour policies, providing feedback and allowing for a readjustment of these policies as necessary. In recent years, the importance of labour inspection in promoting decent work has been widely recognized. Yet in many countries, the changing world of work with its new employment patterns has been accompanied by reduced government interventions in the workplace. Even where there is a general agreement on the benefits of labour inspection, the real impact of labour inspectors has often been limited, especially among vulnerable or hard-to-reach groups and in the large informal economy. The ILO is working to strenghten labour inspection systems with a view to ensuring labour law compliance through the promotion of relevant international labour standards, and technical advisory services and projects.