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The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report and the attached documentation. The Committee notes in particular Executive Decree No. 18264 of 14 August 2002, issued pursuant to the recommendation of the National Minimum Wage Council (CONASAM) of 6 August 2002, which raises the minimum wage by 12 per cent for workers in the private sector only. The Committee also notes resolutions Nos. 536 and 537, dated 22 August 2002, of the Ministry of Justice and Labour, which fix monthly wage rates by occupational category. The Committee notes, however, that these provisions bear no relation to the minimum wage applicable to the agricultural sector. The Committee understands that minimum wage rates for this sector were last adjusted in 1997 by Decree No. 16037 of 15 January 1997 and by resolutions Nos. 20 and 25 of 24 January 1997. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the measures adopted or envisaged to readjust these rates.

Furthermore, the Committee requests the Government to make every effort to collect and communicate in its next report detailed information on the application of the Convention in practice, in conformity with Article 5 and Part V of the report form and, in particular, to supply statistics on the application of methods of enforcement (violations reported, sanctions imposed, etc.) and copies of court decisions concerning the implementation of minimum wage legislation. The Committee also requests the Government to transmit information on any changes in the situation covered by the complaint made under article 24 of the ILO Constitution in 1995 and which was discussed in the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards in 1996.