CMNT_TITLE

Repetition

Article 3(2) of the Convention. Minimum wage fixing machinery. Tripartite consultations. The Committee notes that the Wages Councils (Wages Regulation) (Amendment) Order, 2010 (Statutory Instrument No. 79 of 2010) and the Wages Regulations (Manual Workers) (Amendment) Order, 2010 (Statutory Instrument No. 80 of 2010) set the hourly minimum wage rate at 3.10 Belize Dollars (BZD) (approximately US$1.58) for all adult workers in all industries, and at BZD3 (approximately US$1.53) for students. The Committee notes that these Orders were adopted following the recommendations of a tripartite Minimum Wage Task Force, whose final report was submitted in January 2010. The Task Force after having conducted surveys and having gathered data, presented its main findings and recommended: (i) the introduction of one minimum wage for all categories of adult workers and a lower minimum wage rate for students; (ii) the establishment of a minimum living wage index taking into account the variations of inflation on a bi-annual basis; and (iii) the ratification of the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131). The Committee understands that the Government pursues the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any progress made with regard to: (i) the development of a Minimum Living Wage Index and a formula for the calculation of the minimum wage; and (ii) the effective application of the national minimum wage to the agricultural and export-oriented sectors. It also requests the Government to indicate the reasons for establishing a differentiated minimum wage rate for students and how it is ensured in these circumstances that the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value is fully observed.