The International Labour Organization (ILO) is advancing digital transformation for labour inspectorates with the introduction of the Labour Inspectorates and the Future of Technology (LIFT) tool. LIFT is a cloud-based electronic case management system designed to replace traditional paper-based processes for planning, monitoring, and reporting with fully digital workflows, making labour inspections more efficient and comprehensive.
A key innovation of LIFT is its ability to connect related enterprises across supply chains, enabling inspectorates to identify systemic compliance risks beyond individual worksites. By linking contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers in a single digital database, LIFT allows inspectorates to classify economic units by size, sector, inspection history, and other risk indicators, helping detect non-compliance patterns across multiple tiers of the supply chain.
The tool has already been piloted in Madagascar, Eswatini, Lesotho, Zambia, and Zanzibar during 2024–2025, creating the first digital and centralized repository of inspection and enterprise data covering more than 3,900 economic units in sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and agriculture. In Eswatini, LIFT has enabled inspectors to maintain a registry of establishments categorized by sector, size, and location, significantly reducing time spent preparing for inspections and improving oversight of enterprises operating across multiple areas.
Early rollout results are providing valuable insights into enterprise composition and workforce distribution, including micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and gender representation. In Eswatini and Madagascar, over 70 percent of registered units are micro or small enterprises, which are typically underrepresented in inspections. Data also revealed that women comprise 20 percent of the workforce in micro and small enterprises, but 60 percent in large enterprises, mainly in manufacturing. These insights create a strong evidence base for policies promoting gender equality and decent work across supply chains.
As data collection expands, labour inspectorates will be able to generate detailed statistics aligned with the ILO Guide on the Harmonization of Labour Inspection Statistics. This includes metrics on inspection coverage, detected violations, corrective actions, and compliance trends, providing a comprehensive overview of labour conditions across sectors and supply chains.
Building on these early successes, the ILO plans to expand the implementation of LIFT in the Caribbean, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa during 2026–2027. The goal is to further enhance labour inspection capacity, increase supply chain visibility, and advance decent work globally.
