CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes a new law, No. 16.616 of October 1994, which establishes the basis for a National Statistical System, including the role of the National Institute of Statistics (INE), the obligation of data reporting, the guarantee of confidentiality of the data and the sanctions applicable in case of breach. It also notes that a Business Register set up on the basis of the third National Economic Census is being used as the sample frame for the monthly Average Wage Index (IMS).

The Committee notes that three types of minimum wage rates are established by the Government, and that other minimum rates are established by collective bargaining or on the basis of employer-employee agreements. It notes, however, that statistical data are not compiled on wages fixed by collective agreement. The Committee asks the Government whether measures are envisaged to compile such statistics.

The Committee notes that the available wage statistics in respect of wage earners engaged in agriculture refer to only: (i) minimum wage rates in agriculture; and (ii) earnings and other income from work as well as hours of work of workers whose main occupation is in the primary sector, which are derived from the urban household survey. The Committee asks the Government if it envisages extending the coverage of the wage statistics in the agricultural sector to compile statistics in accordance with the provisions of Part IV of the Convention.