Public oversight in the industrial sector in Latin American countries: a comparative legal analysis

The article presents a comparative legal analysis of the public control institute in the industrial sector of all twenty Latin American states. The study encompasses legal mechanisms, institutional frameworks, and practical aspects of civil society's participation in monitoring industrial activities, compliance with environmental and labor standards, and combating corruption in the industrial sector. Based on the analysis of national legislations, including the Peruvian Participation and Civil Control Law (No. 26,300 of 1994), Mexican regulations on environmental information, Brazilian practices of social observatories, and the experience of other countries in the region, common patterns and significant differences in approaches to organizing public control have been identified. Particular attention is paid to the evolution of the institute from traditional labor inspection to modern mechanisms of "social supervision" and pollutant release and transfer registers (PRTRs). Methods and methodology of the research. The methodological foundation of the work includes general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, systemic approach) and specific scientific methods of cognition. Among the latter, the comparative legal method occupies a central place, allowing for the comparison of legislative approaches of the twenty Latin American states. A formal-legal method, a historical-legal method, and a legal modeling method were also employed. It has been established that, despite progressive legislation, there remains a gap between formal legal norms and their practical implementation. The main issues include insufficient accessibility of information, weak potential of civil society, corruption, and limited law enforcement mechanisms. A system of measures is proposed, including the harmonization of legislation, strengthening institutional potential, and developing digital platforms for public control. The main hypothesis of the study is based on the assumption that, despite the existence of formally advanced legislation on public control in most Latin American countries, the effectiveness of its implementation in the industrial sector significantly varies depending on the level of institutional development, the maturity of civil society, and specific legal mechanisms, with the most successful practices demonstrating synergy between legal guarantees of access to information, mechanisms of civic participation, and independent monitoring.