The Maritime Sector

THE GOOD PRACTICES OF LABOUR INSPECTION IN BRAZIL: 39An important positive consequence of this process concerns employers.The more harmonised procedures are, the easier it is to adapt to requiredstandards. This fosters a positive environment for compliance. Betterknowledge of international standards has also led to changes in theentrepreneurial culture in the sector. Employers must be prompted toprefer conforming to international standards and to perceive this as anadvantage in the international market.9. SustainabilityThe success of the GMNs in the dissemination of good practices andtheir role in the exchange of knowledge among labour inspectors ofdifferent states and with different levels of experience contributes for itsconsolidation as a permanent inspection tool in Brazil.The GMN experience engenders a positive trickle-down effect ofinformation exchanges – less experienced inspectors learn from moreexperienced ones; those who participate in GMNs return to their regionalunits and disseminate the experiences and knowledge acquired duringthe operation.The sustainability of this practice is also due to the fact it the GMNhas proved to create greater knowledge of ILO ratified conventions. Itshould also have an important role in disseminating information onother conventions – such as the Maritime Labour Convention, whichconsolidates previous conventions.THE MARITIME SECTOR10. ReplicabilityThe adoption of a “light” and flexible model of inspection implies lowcosts,an important factor when considering the replicability of a givenpractice within other contexts in which the number of inspectors andthe availability of resources is not always compatible with needs andterritorial size. This practice, moreover, can be adapted to differentcontexts and put to use in different sectors.The fact that the GMN is a model based on the Special Mobile InspectionGroups for the rescue of workers found in conditions analogous toslavery demonstrates that this is an adaptable and replicable practiceaccording to specific necessities of a sector or a country.