In some countries it becomes institutionalized as a consultation body for the planning of social policy and legislation. It prevents disputes at their origin and resolves labour problems de facto, without a court ruling. Moreover, the ability to sanction according to their own judgement means that their action has the potential to be doubly effective. While its essential function is to enforce the rules and provide technical advice and information on the subject, the preventive role also forms part of that task. In most countries, inspectors articulate preventive and repressive approaches de facto, since their action tends not so much to look for infringements and sanction them, but rather to achieve respect for and application of the regulation. This does not mean that advice replaces the control function.