The labour inspectorate is a hard-pressed institution in many countries. The International Labour Office finds this a disturbing trend, and has recently proposed a package of measures to “reinvigorate, modernise and strengthen labour inspectorates worldwide”.

The ETUI-REHS Health and Safety Department is adding to the momentum by launching its own survey on the working of labour inspection systems in the 27 Member States of the EU, as well as the applicant countries, plus Switzerland and Norway.

The main point of the survey is to assess recent trends in the specific health and safety at work activities of labour inspectorates.

Is the labour inspection system properly resourced to fulfil its health and safety role? What stops it doing a more effective job? Are governments carrying out a coherent policy in this field?

The ETUI-REHS will be trying to answer these questions with the assistance of trade unions and public agencies tasked with leading prevention policies (labour inspectorates, Ministries of Labour/Work). But contributions will also be welcomed from any individual or organisation with information on the areas covered by the survey.

Replies to the questionnaire must be emailed to (lvogel@etui-rehs.org) by 20 February 2007 at the latest.

• More detailed presentation of the survey
• Questionnaire