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Article 3, paragraph 2(2) and (3), of the Convention. Level of the minimum wage and participation of the social partners in the operation of minimum wage fixing machinery. The Committee notes the Government’s report and the attached copy of Decree No. 40/00 of 10 October 2000 issuing the statutes of the National Council of Social Dialogue (CNCS). The Committee also notes the information to the effect that the guaranteed national minimum wage was readjusted by Decree No. 98/05 of 28 October 2005 and raised to 5,850 kwanzas (approximately US$65 per month). In this regard, the Committee understands that in May 2006 the Council of Ministers decided to increase the national minimum wage by 10 per cent. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the Decree fixing the current minimum wage level and to keep it informed of any developments in this respect. The Committee also asks the Government to provide further information on the exact role of the CNCS in the minimum wage fixing machinery and on how it ensures that the social partners participate and are consulted in a useful and effective manner; or, in other words, that workers’ and employers’ representatives really have the opportunity to express their opinions and that these opinions are given full and fair consideration.

Article 4. System of supervision and sanctions. Given that no response has been received in this respect, the Committee once again asks the Government to provide, in its next report, detailed information on the functioning of the inspection system which ensures the observance of the national minimum wage. The Committee also requests the Government to refer to its 2005 comments regarding the Labour Inspection Convention, 1947 (No. 81).

Article 5 and Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the information contained in the 2005 annual report drafted by the technical group to review fluctuations in the national minimum wage, which was set up by the National Council of Social Dialogue. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the application of the Convention in practice, in particular statistics on the number of workers covered by the minimum wage, extracts from inspection service reports indicating the infringements reported and the penalties imposed, as well as any other official documents, such as CNCS studies, concerning the national minimum wage.