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The Committee notes that monthly statistics of average earnings and labour cost per hour paid for, in the form of indices and absolute figures, by branch of economic activity and occupational group, continue to be compiled from the Sistema de Estadísticas de Salarios (wage statistics system). The data are not available by sex or age group, however, these statistics fulfil the basic requirements of Part II of the Convention.

The Committee notes with interest that statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work (Part III) are now compiled, and agriculture (Part IV) is not excluded from the scope of the establishment sample survey. The Committee requests the Government to continue reporting any progress made in the application of the Convention, including any development relating to the new process of conceptual and methodological updating.

The Committee would like to draw to the Government’s attention the new international standards concerning the measurement of working time (Resolution I) adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians and accessible via: ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Statistics/standards/resolutions/lang--en/docName--WCMS_112455/index.htm, where a larger number of concepts and measures are defined in detail.

Referring to the Government’s previous report (2004) whereby the ILO was informed that the National Institute of Statistics (INE) had not indicated its position on the issue of the ratification of the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160), the Committee notes that no further information has been provided in this regard. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would consider ratifying Convention No. 160 and keep the ILO informed in this regard, taking into account the 2000 general observation on the pertinence of the instrument and on the ipso jure denunciation of Convention No. 63 in case of the ratification of the more recent instrument. The Committee suggests once again that the Government may wish to consider seeking the technical assistance of the Office for the purpose of facilitating the process of ratifying Convention No. 160.

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In response to its  general observation of 2000, concerning the ratification of the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160), the Committee notes the indication that the National Institute of Statistics (INE), which is the competent body for the compilation of national statistics, has not yet taken a position on this issue. It would be grateful if the Government would provide information on any further developments in this regard.

The Committee notes with interest that the system of wages statistics continues to provide monthly nominal and real indices of employees’ wages and salaries and the labour costs of employers, both variables being measured per hour paid for, by occupational group (in accordance with the International Standard Classification of Occupations, ISCO, 1988) and branch of economic activity (according to ISIC, Rev. 2). It also provides average monthly wages, salaries and labour costs in absolute figures, established according to the same classifications. Moreover, the Committee notes that these statistics, as well as those presented in the form of indices, absolute figures and metadata, are now published regularly and made available on the INE’s web site.

The Committee also notes that detailed methodological information is provided in the publication attached to the Government’s report. It further notes that statistics of the average monthly earnings of employees by economic activity and average monthly labour costs in manufacturing are also provided regularly for publication in the ILO Yearbook of Labour Statistics and dissemination on line, while monthly indices of hourly earnings, for which the most recent data refer to October 2004, are published in the ILO Bulletin of Labour Statistics.

The Committee notes that: (a) monthly statistics of average earnings and labour cost per hour paid for, in the form of indices and absolute figures, by branch of economic activity and occupational group, continue to be compiled from the wage statistics system and fulfil the basic requirements of Part II of the Convention; and (b) statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work (Part III) are not compiled, and that agriculture (Part IV) is excluded from the scope of the survey. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue reporting any progress achieved on these points.

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Further to its previous comments on Article 5, paragraph 1, and Article 10, paragraph 2, of the Convention, the Committee notes that statistics of average weekly hours actually worked are derived from the quarterly labour force survey which covers the non-institutional population and all persons aged 15 years and over, by economic activity and by sex.

The Committee notes the developments of the new system of wages statistics (sistema de estad¡sticas sobre salarios) which provides statistics of average earnings (not published, but communicated annually to the ILO), and indices of average earnings and labour cost per hour paid for. It notes that these statistics fulfil the basic requirements of Part II of the Convention.

The Committee however notes that statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work are not compiled (Part III) and agriculture is excluded from the scope of the survey (Part IV). It requests the Government to continue reporting any progress made on these points.

Finally, the Committee notes that the whole system of indices of earnings and labour cost will be reviewed at the end of 1999, with a view to updating and improving the statistical programme. It requests the Government to continue reporting any changes with regard to the application of the Convention.

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The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government, particularly regarding the new Integrated Basic System of Wages Statistics which will be put into operation as from 1992.

Article 5, paragraph 1 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide further details about the data to be compiled and published with respect to average earnings and hours worked under the new Integrated System, so that it can be determined whether these statistics meet the requirements of the Convention.

Article 10, paragraph 2. The Committee notes with interest that the new Integrated System includes the collection of wage data by sex, although not yet contemplated as a generality. It therefore hopes that the Government will continue its effort to obtain separate statistics of average earnings for each sex and for adults and juveniles, in accordance with this provision of the Convention.

Part III of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work covered by Part III of the Convention will be collected and published as part of the new Integrated System.

Part IV. The Committee notes that the National Institute of Statistics is examining the possibility of collecting statistics of wages in agriculture, and requests the Government to continue reporting any progress made in this connection.

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The Committee notes with interest the information supplied by the Government, particularly regarding the new Integrated Basic System of Wages Statistics which will be put into operation as from 1992.

Article 5, paragraph 2, of the Convention. Further to its previous observation, the Committee notes with interest that the sample frame for enterprises in the construction industry has been improved by covering enterprises with 50 (instead of 100) or more workers.

In its earlier comments, the Committee requested the Government to take measures to include in statistics of average earnings and hours actually worked, workers employed under the Minimum Employment Programmes (PEM), which cannot be considered to be a programme of unemployment assistance. In this connection, the Committee notes the Government's indication that the PEM ceased to exist at the end of 1988.

The Committee is also addressing a direct request to the Government regarding certain points.

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The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government, particularly regarding Article 12, paragraph 2, of the Convention.

Article 5, paragraph 1. The Committee notes the Government's statement that information obtained by means of the questionnaire used in order to carry out the survey on employment and wages in individual establishments is not trustworthy. The Committee also notes that the statistics of hours of work are compiled by means of the survey on the labour force; however, the Committee notes that these statistics do not concord with the statistics on earnings. The Committee therefore hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures in the near future to obtain trustworthy information, and to transmit it with its future reports.

Article 5, paragraph 2. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, the chosen sample of the construction sector, which covers only enterprises employing 100 or more workers, is representative, inasmuch as there is a greater probability of enterprises of this type maintaining their operations on a continuous basis and of being a permanent and appropriate source of information. The Committee considers, however, that since 70 per cent of the establishments in the construction industry employ fewer than 20 workers, these establishments (which form the majority when the number of workers employed is taken into account) would appear likely to operate on a continuous basis taken as a group and would in that event be able to transmit the required information on a regular basis. The Committee therefore hopes that the Government will re-examine the question of taking these enterprises into account in surveys conducted for statistical purposes in the construction sector.

The Committee also notes the explanations given by the Government concerning the Minimum Employment Programme (PEM). In line with the conclusions of the committee set up to examine the representation presented by the National Trade Union Co-ordinating Council (CNS) under article 24 of the ILO Constitution, the Committee points out once again that the PEM cannot be considered to be an employment programme. The committee set up to examine the representation also considered that the PEM is not a programme of unemployment assistance. (Official Bulletin, Special Supplement 2/1985, Vol. LXVIII, Series B, paragraphs 55 and 56, p. 27.) The Committee therefore hopes that the Government will adopt the necessary measures to include in statistics of average earnings and hours actually worked, workers employed in the industries covered by the Convention that come under the Minimum Employment Programmes.

Article 10, paragraph 2. The Committee notes the Government's explanations to the effect that it is not possible to obtain figures for the compilation of statistics of earnings for each sex and age group because the enterprises supplying the information do not have the necessary staff and are not sufficiently well organised to supply this type of information. The Committee once again expresses the hope that the Government will be able to take measures to obtain statistics of average earnings for each sex and age group of workers, at the intervals provided for by the Convention.

Part IV of the Convention, Article 22, paragraphs 2(c) and 3. The Committee notes the value fixed for the allowances in kind received by agricultural workers as part of their wages, and that the National Statistics Institute (INE) is not in a position to predict whether it will be possible to allocate resources in order to extend the coverage of labour statistics. The Committee nevertheless hopes that the Government will decide to take the necessary steps for the INE to be able in the near future to compile statistics in the agricultural sector and therefore to give effect to these provisions of the Convention.

Finally, the Committee hopes that the Government will consider it appropriate to take into account the suggestion made in its general observation.