Inspections Unit - Department of Labour and Pensions
Inspections Unit
Labour Inspections, inclusive of Pensions Inspections, is an essential part of Labour and Pensions administration system, exercising the fundamental function of the Labour and Pensions enforcement and compliance. It ensures fairness in the workplace and helps promote economic development. In essence, the institution of Inspection has a twofold nature.
On the one hand, it supervises the enforcement of legal provisions, particularly with regard to workers’ rights and also provides information and advice, as well as training to employers. This dual nature means that Inspection systems play a key role in the world of work.
The Inspections Unit is directed by the Head of Inspections (HOI) and comprises (2) Senior Labour and Pensions Inspectors, (3) Labour and Pensions Inspectors.
If you have any questions pertaining to Labour and Pensions inspections and Occupation Health & Safety, please email us at dlpinspections@gov.ky.
The Inspection Unit is responsible for ensuring that both employers and employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities. This Unit monitors workplace environments, through proactive, reactive and onsite inspections and is mandated to enforce the following legislation:
- Labour Act (2021 Revision)
- National Pensions Act (2021 Revision)
- Minimum Wage Order (2016 Revision)
- Occupational Safety and Health (Construction Regulations) 2008
These pieces of legislation cover issues which include minimum wage and rate of pay; hours of work and overtime; public holidays; meal and rest periods; vacation and sick leave, maternity benefits, Pensions enrollments and contributions and the employment of children. The OSH Regulations cover what employers and employees must do on worksites where any potential risk or hazard might be evident.
A properly conducted inspection visit can have impact beyond the immediate concern of law enforcement and compliance. Inspectors play a frontline role in the work of the Department of Labour and Pensions. Through general observation and questioning they can identify problem areas which might lead to conflicts and disputes, as well as potential hazards which might cause workplace accidents. Thus, well-executed inspection visits can play an important preventive role in the wider area of Labour-management relations.
The Inspectorate Unit is also responsible for:
Education - Educating and advising employers, employees and the general public about the relevant Labour laws as they relate to wages and terms and conditions of work, through issuance of Inspection Reports.
Litigation Recommendations - Recommending litigation in cases, through the Department of Public Prosecutions where employers continuously ignore warnings for breaching the provisions of relevant Labour laws.
Outreach Programme - Supplying information and providing advice to employers and employees concerning the most effective means of complying with legal provisions
In addition to the above, the Inspections Unit conducts regular joint operations with other Law Enforcement agencies to include, WORC, DCI, CBC and in some instances the RCIPS, DEH and the Health Regulatory Commission.
Health & Safety
Workplace health and safety is all about sensibly managing risks to protect your workers and your business. Good health and safety management is characterized by strong leadership involving your managers, workers, suppliers, contractors and customers. In a global context, health and safety is also an essential part of the movement towards sustainable development.
Five things you can do to improve health and safety in your workplace:
- Find out more about risk management
- Lead from the top. Workers are much more likely to get involved and comply with controls if senior management make it clear that health and safety is taken seriously by your business. Actively discourage negative behaviors such as taking risks to save time or effort.
- Improve health and safety competence in your business.
- Get your workers involved in risk assessment: this will increase ‘buy-in’ and ownership of their own health and safety. Set up health and safety representatives, and if they are already established, support them more visibly.
- Implement a health and safety management system for your business. This should include an overall policy setting out your commitment, responsibilities allocated to individuals and your arrangements detailing how you will actually control your risks.
Workplace Inspections
The aim of workplace health and safety inspections is to prevent work related accidents and ill health by identifying new hazards; and checking that preventative and protective control measures are implemented and effective.
What is the purpose of inspections?
Inspection means careful evaluation. The primary objective of inspections is meeting customer requirements and preventing defective products from being distributed. It is undeniable that some of the product defects cannot be checked or fixed at the final production stage.
Employer Compliance
The Employer compliance means following the laws, policies, guidelines and regulations that are required to govern the business while any employment is taking place.
Occupation Safety & Health Training
The Inspections Unit is also a key contributor to the training of private sector employers on all areas of the Labour and Pensions Acts in an effort to continually improve employers' understanding of the Act as well as their compliance. If you are interested in registering for training, please complete the training registration form by clicking the link below and submitting the complete Registration Form via email to dlpinspections@gov.ky.
