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The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report. It would, however, be grateful for further information on the following points.

Article 3, paragraph 2, of the Convention. Minimum wage-fixing machinery and the application of minimum wages. The Committee notes Decree No. 4686 of 21 December 2005 which fixes the national minimum wage for 2006 at 408,000 pesos (around US$183) a month for all sectors of activity, without geographical distinction. It also notes the Government’s indication that, at the national level, the Standing Committee on the Coordination of Wage Policies and Labour has established a workplan providing the basis for the establishment of a round table with public sector unions; the reactivation of the Public Sector Dialogue Subcommittee; and the meeting of a working group on wages and social benefits. The Committee also notes the indication that these measures were included in the recommendations made during the tripartite visit held between 24 and 29 October 2005, which also include the reactivation in the near future of existing tripartite institutions, namely the Inter-institutional Commission for the Promotion of Human Rights, the Special Commission to Address Disputes Brought to the ILO and the Standing Committee on the Coordination of Wage Policies and Labour. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of any development in this field.

Article 4, paragraph 1, and Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the information relating to the minimum wage rates applied between 2003 and 2006. The Committee, however, recalls its previous comments in which it noted that the non-observance of the minimum wage was among the infringements observed most frequently, according to statistics on the outcome of inspections, and it requested additional information on the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure the application of rules respecting minimum wages throughout the national territory and in all sectors of activity, including the agricultural sector. The Committee regrets that the Government’s last reports do not contain any new information on the application in practice of Conventions Nos 26 or 99, or on the impact of the recent reorganization of the labour administration, by virtue of Decree No. 205 of 3 February 2003, on the effectiveness of labour inspection activities. It would therefore be grateful if the Government would continue providing general information including, for example, on the number of workers paid at the minimum wage rate by sector, fluctuations in the rate of minimum wages in relation to the inflation rate over the same period, extracts from the reports of the inspection services indicating the number of infringements reported and the penalties imposed, and any other official document relating to the operation and supervision of the minimum wage system.