CMNT_TITLE

Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Guatemala (RATIFICATION: 1989)

Other comments on C117

Observation

2008

Direct Request

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Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the comments of the Indigenous and Rural Workers’ Trade Union Movement of Guatemala (MSICG), which were forwarded to the Government in September 2011. The MSICG indicates that 52 per cent of the population is living in poverty and 15.5 per cent in extreme poverty. In May 2009, a national integrated rural development policy was adopted which will be implemented until 2015 and includes a strategic social policy component intended to eradicate racism, exclusion and marginalization. The MSICG deplores the concentration of land ownership as an indicator of inequality in the country, the low quality of education and teaching and the persistence of poverty among the indigenous population. The Committee refers to its 2008 observation and requests the Government to provide updated information in its next report to enable it to examine the manner in which it is ensured that “the improvement of standards of living” has been regarded as “the principal objective in the planning of economic development” (Article 2). The Committee also asks the Government to provide information on the results achieved by government plans and the manner in which productive capacity has been increased and the standards of living of agricultural producers improved (Article 4).

Part IV. Wages. Advances on the remuneration of workers. In its previous comments, the Committee asked the Government to provide copies of collective agreements containing provisions respecting advances on wages. In September 2011, the Government provided copies of nine collective agreements approved in 2008 and 2009. The Committee notes with interest that the provisions examined in the collective agreements respecting advances on wages set out regulations on the maximum amounts and manner of repayment of advances on wages (Article 12(1)) of the Convention. The Committee invites the Government to provide with its next report copies of collective agreements which contain provisions respecting advances on wages. Please also indicate whether courts of law have issued decisions on the subjects covered by Article 12 of the Convention.