Page 45 of 46 confidential complaint with the Labor Inspectorate regarding working conditions and to remove themselves from such situations without jeopardizing their employment. Owners who repeatedly violated the law concerning safety standards could face temporary closure. The government proactively identified unsafe conditions and responded to workers’ occupational, safety, and health-related complaints. Implicated sectors included manufacturing, food service, hotels, agriculture, and construction. Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: The government enforced minimum wage, hour, and OSH laws, mostly in the formal sectors of the economy and when complaints were filed. The Labor Inspectorate was responsible for enforcement of all labor laws, other than those pertaining to mining and marine shipping, which fell under the Ministry of Environment and Energy and the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy respectively. Inspectors had the authority to make unannounced inspections, impose fines, and initiate sanctions. The number of inspectors was not always sufficient, especially in the islands and during the tourist season. In February the Labor Inspectorate reported having conducted 59,476 onsite checks from January to November 2022 in various employment categories, including school bus drivers, delivery service providers and construction workers. The labor inspectors found more than 11,800 violations and issued fines exceeding €32 million ($34.6 million). Penalties for violations were commensurate with similar violations such as fraud or negligence and Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2023 United States Department of State • Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor