CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following points raised in its previous direct request:

1. Part V (Standards to be complied with by periodical payments). (a) Articles 26 or 27 (in relation with Articles 10 and 17). The Committee notes with interest the statistical information supplied by the Government. With reference to the rate of invalidity benefits, the Committee recalls that in accordance with section 22(3) of the National Insurance and Social Security (Benefit) Regulations of 1967, as amended, the rate of the benefit shall be 45 per cent of the average annual insurable earnings when the beneficiary has completed the period of 15 years of contribution provided for in Article 11, paragraph 1(a), of the Convention, whereas, in accordance with Article 26 of the Convention in conjunction with the Schedule to Part V, this rate should be 50 per cent for the same period of contribution for a standard beneficiary (a man with a wife and two children). However, the Committee notes from the information supplied by the Government that the minimum level of invalidity benefits provided to beneficiaries was $76 per week in 1990. In these conditions, the Government could also avail itself of Article 27 of the Convention to ascertain whether the level of the invalidity benefits is in accordance with the percentage provided for in the Convention. It therefore requests the Government to supply the information requested under Titles I and II of Article 27 of the report form adopted by the Governing Body and to specify the minimum amount of the invalidity benefit provided to a standard beneficiary and the amount of the wage of an ordinary adult male labourer chosen in accordance with paragraph 4 or 5 of Article 27. With regard to the rate of old-age benefit, the Government should also supply the information requested under Title III of the report form.

(b) Article 29. The Committee notes with interest the information concerning the readjustment of minimum pension benefits up to 1990. It requests the Government to supply statistical information on the adjustment of pensions other than minimum pensions in accordance with the requirements of the report form under Article 29. Please also supply information on fluctuations in the cost of living index and/or the index of earnings.

2. Part III (Old-age benefit), Article 15, paragraph 3. The Committee recalls that, in its report for 1979, the Government stated that there did not exist in Barbados work which was considered to be sufficiently arduous or unhealthy to justify a lowering of the pensionable age to under 65 years for persons engaged in such work. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report if this statement is still applicable.