Labor  inspectors  are  elected  at  labor  conferences
of  representatives  of  trade  unions  and  of  factory
and  works  committees  of  those  districts  in  which
they  are  to  serve.  Only  where  the  convening  of
such  conferences  is  impossible,  do  the  elections
take  place  at  the  local  trade  union  councils.  In
this  way  the  closest  contact  between  the  labor  in-
spectors and  the  working  masses  by  whom  they  are
delegated  is  secured.  The  election  process  in  it-
self is  of  the  greatest  educational  and  propaganda
importance.  At  these  elections  working  masses  be-
come acquainted  with  the  general  principles  and
practice  of  the  protection  of  labor  in  Soviet  Rus-
sia, as  well  as  with  the  decrees  and  instructions  in
connection  with  labor  protection.  The  delegate
visit  their  localities  and  make  reports  concerning
the  conference,  and  in  this  manner  obtain  the  direct
participation  of  the  masses  in  the  work  of  labor
protection.
Upon  his  election,  the  Inspector  of  Labor,  though
directly  subordinated  to  the  Labor  Department
works  at  the  same  time  in  close  contact  with  all
the  local  trade  unions  and  also  carries  out  all  the
instructions  of  the  local  council  of  trade  unions,
which  is  empowered  to  withdraw  any  inspector  who
may  turn  out  to  be  inefficient.  The  supervision  of
the  labor  inspector  includes  all  the  workers  and
employees  of  his  district,  independent  of  whether
they  are  engaged  in  small  or  large  branches  of  in-
dustry, in  private  or  state  factories,  in  civil,  mili-
tary or  militarized  enterprises  or  institutions.
