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Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Canada (RATIFICATION: 1995)

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Articles 9, 11 and 15 of the Convention. Statistics of time rates of wages, components of labour costs and industrial disputes. In its 2022 report, the Government indicates that, based on the Labour Force Survey (LFS), Statistics Canada produces monthly and annual estimates of the number of hours lost by employees for a range of reasons, including labour disputes (Article 15). The Government provides a link to these statistics. The Committee however notes, with regret, that the Government does not provide updated information in relation to the way it applies Articles 9 and 11 of the Convention. The Committee thus reiterates its request in that regard.

Article 3. Revising concepts, definitions and methodology, in cooperation with the social partners. The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government regarding the 2016 and the 2021 Census of Population. The Committee requests that the Government provide information on the specific manner in which it ensures that the social partners are consulted, and their views taken into account, when designing the concepts, definitions and methodology used for these censuses.

Articles 7 and 8. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee takes note of the information provided regarding the data and the methodology used to compile statistics on economically active population, employment, underemployment and unemployment. The Committee notes in particular that modifications were made to the main LFS questionnaire in order to adapt to the new objectives of the 2022 LFS programme: (i) obtaining richer insights into the labour market conditions of several groups of Canadians, including indigenous Canadians and racialized groups; (ii) obtaining improved information on local labour market conditions; (iii) obtaining new information on the quality of employment; and (iv) on the forms of work. The Committee notes that the Government does not provide information on the consultation held with the social partners regarding the development of the new LFS questionnaire. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply data and information on the methodology used in the application of Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. It also requests the Government to provide information on the consultations held with the social partners concerning the development of the new LFS questionnaire (Article 3). The Committee further invites the Government to provide information on any developments in relation to the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization, adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) (2013) (Resolution I). In addition, the Committee invites the Government to keep it informed of any developments towards the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics on work relationships, adopted by the 20th ICLS (2018) (Resolution I) and regarding the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics on the informal economy, adopted by the 21st ICLS (2023) (Resolution I).

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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning Articles 9, 11 and 15 of the Convention. It notes in this regard that Statistics Canada does not currently collect information on components of time rates of wages, such as bonuses or payments in kind, other than direct wages of employees (Article 9(2)), as well as on components of labour cost other than direct wages of employees (Article 11). Due to constraints related to collection cost and respondent burden, the Government indicates that there are no plans at this time to collect additional information. With regard to Article 15, the Government indicates that Statistics Canada produces monthly and annual estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) of the number of hours lost by employees for a range of reasons, including labour disputes. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any changes made in relation to the application of these provisions.

Article 3 of the Convention. Revising concepts, definitions and methodology, in cooperation with the social partners. In reply to the Committee’s previous comments and the observations of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN) concerning the abandonment of the long-form census, the Committee notes with satisfaction that the Government asked Statistics Canada to reinstate the mandatory long-form census for the 2016 Census. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results of the 2016 Census when they become available.

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes that Statistics Canada publishes monthly indicators, based on the LFS, of the number of persons working part-time, including those who would prefer to work full-time but do not, either as a result of business conditions or because they could not find full-time work. Moreover, the Government indicates that Statistics Canada is developing additional labour force indicators, including alternative measures of labour underutilization and gross labour market flows between labour force statuses. The Government adds that these indicators will be introduced as time and resources permit and in coordination with a planned redesign of Statistics Canada’s dissemination systems. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply data and information on the methodology used in the application of these provisions. It also requests the Government to provide information on the consultations held with the social partners concerning the development of additional labour force indicators (Article 3). The Committee also invites the Government to provide information on any developments in relation to the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

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The Committee notes the observations of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN) concerning the long-form census communicated with the Government’s report.

Article 3 of the Convention. Revising concepts, definitions and methodology, in cooperation with the social partners. The CSN indicates that in 2010 an important change in the methodology used by the federal Government in the collection of key labour market statistics was made without any consultation. The change concerns the decision to ask questions normally asked on the long form census (the answering of which is compulsory) on the National Household Survey (the answering of which is voluntary) instead. The CSN is of the view that the abandonment of the long-form census will deprive the federal and provincial governments and other organizations of reliable statistics to inform labour-related policies and programmes. The CSN also indicates that the Government’s decision to abandon the long-form census does not comply with the obligations of Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

Articles 7 and 8. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes that the Government regularly supplies data to the ILO for dissemination through its ILOSTAT database. It further notes that the last population census was carried out in 2011 (the results of which are publicly available on Statistics Canada’s website) and the next one will be carried out in 2016. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any developments towards the implementation of the resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Article 9(1) and (2). Statistics of average earnings and hours of work. Statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. The Government indicates that Statistics Canada has continued to complete the ILO data requests, ensuring that statistics of average weekly hours actually worked and average weekly earnings are regularly transmitted to the ILO for publication and dissemination. The Committee requests that the Government provide information on any developments concerning statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work.

Article 11. Statistics of labour cost. The Government indicates that there have been no developments concerning the application of this provision since its last report. The Committee once again asks the Government to provide information on any development in this field and draws again the Government’s attention to the guidelines contained in Paragraph 6 of the Labour Statistics Recommendation, 1985 (No. 170) with regard to the compilation of data on the level and composition of labour costs to meet long-term needs.

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. The Committee notes the information by the Government on the methodology and dissemination of statistics on industrial disputes. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information in this regard and on any changes made in relation to the application of Article 15.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2016.]

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Article 9(1) of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest that statistics of average hourly and weekly earnings, as well as weekly hours paid for, continue to be compiled from the Survey of Employee Payrolls and Hours (SEPH). These series have been provided to the ILO for publication in the Yearbook of Labour Statistics. The latest data refer to 2008. Since January 1997, statistics of average weekly hours paid for, average hourly and weekly earnings classified by age and sex, and type of employment are compiled on a monthly basis from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). These are transmitted regularly by email from Statistics Canada to the ILO for publication in the ILO Bulletin of Labour Statistics and dissemination on the ILO web site. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply the series described.

Article 9(2). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would keep the ILO informed of any developments concerning statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. The Committee draws to its attention the new international standards concerning the measurement of working time (see Resolution I, adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, whose larger number of concepts and measures seem to be better aligned to the national practice, accessible via http://www.ilo.org/
global/What_we_do/Statistics/standards/resolutions/lang--en/docName--WCMS_112455/index.htm).

Article 11. The Government’s reply to its previous comments with regard to the statistics required by this provision, referred to a pilot project undertaken by Statistics Canada in 2001 to develop a Labour Cost Index (LCI). It indicated that based on this pilot project’s results, it has decided not to continue because the proposed methodology would not provide data of acceptable quality. In 2005, work was conducted for implementing a LCI but work was halted for lack of resources. The Committee asks the Government to inform the ILO of any future development in this field and draws again the Government’s attention to the guidelines contained in paragraph 6 of Recommendation No. 170, with regard to the compilation of data on the level and composition of labour costs to meet long-terms needs.

Article 15. While noting that methodological information requested by Articles 5 and 6 concerning the statistics aimed at by this provision, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide more specific information regarding the dissemination of, and the methodology for, the annual statistics of industrial disputes.

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The Committee takes note of the Government’s report, which indicates that no major developments have occurred relating to Statistics Canada’s ability to comply with the Articles of this Convention. It also notes the enhancement of Statistics Canada’s information on the dynamics of the labour market, going beyond the basic descriptive data referred to in the Convention. The Committee wishes to draw the Government’s attention to the following points.

Article 9, paragraph 1, of the Convention. In accordance with Article 5,"Each member which ratifies this Convention undertakes to communicate to the International Labour Office, as soon as practicable, the published statistics compiled in pursuance of the Convention." The Committee hopes that the Government will ensure the communication of these statistics on a regular basis.

The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would take measures to facilitate the access of the ILO to Statistics Canada’s web site in view of the discontinuation of certain printed publications containing labour statistics.

Article 11. The Committee notes that, in reply to its direct request of 2000, the report indicates that Statistics Canada has abandoned the project of producing a labour cost index, mainly for lack of resources. The Committee asks the Government to inform the ILO of any development in this respect and invites it to refer to the guidance contained in Paragraph 6 of Recommendation No. 170 with regard to the compilation of data on the level and composition of labour costs to meet long-terms needs.

Article 13. The Committee notes with interest that regular consultations are held with major data users to ensure that concepts, definitions and methodologies are appropriate and relevant.

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Article 9, paragraph 1, and Article 10, of the Convention. The Committee notes with satisfaction that the redesign of the Labour Force Survey in 1997 provides for: (i) the compilation of statistics of average weekly (usual and actual) hours of work, average weekly and hourly earnings of employees, classified by sex and according to a number of additional characteristics, which satisfies the requirements of Article 9, paragraph 1;and (ii) the structure of hours paid and unpaid, including overtime, and the distribution of employees according to levels of hours of work, hourly and weekly earnings, classified according to a large number of employee and job characteristics, which satisfies the requirements of Article 10.

Article 11. The Committee notes that annual estimates of labour income (i.e. compensation of employees) are compiled, which are considered as a proxy to statistics of labour cost. The Committee notes with interest that Statistics Canada is currently developing a labour cost index, along the lines of the US employment cost index. It notes, however, that this type of labour cost index (which is also being developed by other industrialized countries, such as the EU countries and Australia) does not reflect the whole cost of labour. It is generally seen as a short-term indicator of the evolution of the major components of labour costs, while a full measure of labour cost is still required at medium- and long-term intervals, based on detailed labour cost surveys or inquiries. The Committee asks the Government to continue to inform the ILO of any future developments in this field of statistics. In particular, it draws the Government’s attention to the guidelines contained in Paragraph 6 of Recommendation No. 170, with regard to the compilation of data on the level and composition of labour costs to meet long-term needs.

Article 13. The Committee asks the Government to indicate whether the representative organizations of employers and workers were consulted when the concepts, definitions and methodology used for these statistics were designed (in accordance with Article 3). The Committee also asks the Government to keep the ILO informed of any future developments in the field of household income and expenditure statistics since there are indications that income data will be mainly compiled from administrative data sources.

Article 15. The Committee notes the methodological information supplied with the report and requests the name of the publication in which this appears.

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The Committee notes the Government's first report, and requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 9(1) of the Convention. The Committee notes that, while this Article is applied, statistics of earnings and hours of work are not classified by sex. It draws the Government's attention to Paragraph 3 of Recommendation No. 170 under which it is recommended to compile and publish statistics of average earnings and hours of work disaggregated by sex, and which the Government is encouraged to take into account in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention.

Article 10. The Committee notes that this article is partially applied through the compilation of statistics on the distribution of employed persons according to usual hours of work and hours actually worked, derived from the monthly Labour Force Survey. It asks the Government to indicate what steps it intends to take, if any, to compile and publish statistics on the composition of earnings and hours of work of employees, and on the distribution of employees according to levels of earnings and hours of work, in accordance with the guidelines contained in Paragraph 5 of Recommendation No. 170.

Article 11. The Committee notes that Estimates of Labour Income (i.e. compensation of employees) may be considered as a proxy to statistics of labour cost, and that Estimates of Labour Income provide aggregate data on the level and composition ((i) wages and salaries and (ii) supplementary labour income) of compensation, and are classified by economic activity. It requests the Government to indicate whether it intends to take steps to compile and publish statistics on average compensation per employee and/or time unit, and if so, to send these statistics to the ILO when available. It also asks the Government to send the relevant publications as soon as practicable to the ILO, in accordance with Article 5.

Article 13. The Committee requests the Government to send the statistics and detailed methodological descriptions of its recent FES and SCF and to continue doing so as soon as practicable and without waiting for a request from the ILO (in accordance with Articles 5(c) and 6(b) of the Convention).

Article 15. Noting from the information available that the Convention appears to be applied with respect to this Article, the Committee requests the Government to supply information regarding the preparation and publication of the methodology (as required under Article 6).

Article 16. As regards Article 9(2), which was excluded from the acceptance of obligations, the Committee notes with interest the indication in the Government's report that Statistics Canada has recently begun compiling and publishing time rates of wages data and therefore considers to be in a position to accept the obligations of this Article. It requests the Government to provide further information, in accordance with Article 16(4), in particular on the compilation of average wage rates (and possibly normal hours of work) from the Labour Force Survey. It also encourages the Government to send any available methodological information and relevant publications to the ILO, for the assessment of compliance with Article 9(2).