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Article 5 of the Convention in conjunction with Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the statistical information contained in the Government’s report concerning the overall number of workers employed in the agricultural and fishing sector. Given the specificities of the conditions of employment and working conditions in agriculture, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide sector-specific information on the practical application of the Convention, including for instance statistics on the number of agricultural workers remunerated at the minimum wage rate; extracts from reports of the labour inspection services showing the number of wage-related infringements observed, the sanctions imposed and the sums of wage money recovered through judicial or other means; copies of collective agreements applicable in the agricultural sector setting minimum pay rates; and any other particulars concerning measures to ensure the effective implementation of the provisions of the Convention.

In addition, the Committee refers to the comments made under Convention No. 26.

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The Committee takes note of the Government’s report.

Article 3, paragraph 5, of the Convention. The Committee notes that, under section 2(1) of the Minimum Wage Act No. 90/1996, lower monthly and hourly wage rates are applied to young workers below 18 years of age. In this regard, the Committee is bound to recall that, even though the Convention makes specific reference to the possibility of authorizing exceptions to the minimum wage rates in individual cases to protect the employment opportunities of physically or mentally handicapped workers, it contains no similar provision in respect of young workers. The Committee considers, as it has pointed out in paragraph 176 of the General Survey of 1992 on minimum wages, that the reasons that may prompt the adoption of lower minimum wage rates for groups of workers on account of their age or disabilities should be regularly re-examined in the light of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value and that objective criteria such as the quantity and quality of work done should be the decisive factors in determining the wage paid. The Committee would appreciate receiving additional information on the objectives and results of the Government’s policy which allows for minimum wage differentials by reason of the workers’ age.

Article 5 and Part V of the report form. The Committee notes that in the last ten years the Government has supplied very little information on the application of the Convention in practice. It asks therefore the Government to provide in its next report all available information regarding the implementation and enforcement of the minimum wage legislation in respect of agricultural workers, including, for instance, detailed statistics on the number of workers (analysed by age, sex, etc.) covered by relevant legislation, relevant studies or research papers, extracts from inspection reports containing information on the number and nature of violations observed and penalties imposed and any other particulars bearing specifically on the functioning of the minimum wage fixing machinery in agriculture.

In addition, the Committee refers to the comments made under Convention No. 26.

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See under Convention No. 26, as follows:

The Committee notes the information supplied in the Government's report in reply to its previous comments.

Article 4, paragraph 1, of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government's statement that the Act on the Minimum Wages (No. 96/1996 of the Digest of Laws) was published in the Digest of Laws of the Slovak Republic, thus having become generally known by the persons concerned. The Committee recalls paragraph 359 of its 1992 General Survey on minimum wages, according to which the publication of minimum wage rates in the Official Gazette is not by itself sufficient to ensure that the employers and workers concerned are made aware of the rates in force. It again requests the Government to indicate the additional measures taken or envisaged to ensure that publicity is given to minimum wage rates, for example, through the publication of minimum wage rates in publications other than the official compilation of laws, the posting of notices in places where wages are paid or at the workplace, or by other means.

Article 5, in conjunction with point V of the report form. The Committee notes that the minimum wage is SKK2,700 per month for the year 1997 and applies to all groups of workers in industry, agriculture, services, private sector. It requests the Government to specify if young workers are or are not covered by this minimum wage. It also requests the Government to supply, in accordance with general information on the application of the Convention in practice: (i) the minimum wage rates in force; (ii) the available data on the number and different categories of workers covered by minimum wage provisions; and (iii) the results of inspections carried out (e.g. the number of violations of minimum wage provisions revealed, the penalties imposed, etc.).

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The Committee notes the Government's report on the application of the Convention. It requests the Government to supply additional information on the following points:

Article 3, paragraph 5, in conjunction with Article 5. The Committee notes that an exception to the principle of the minimum wage is permitted for persons receiving an invalidity pension, and for young persons, in order to avoid the development of unemployment among these categories of persons. It also notes the Government's statement to the effect that statistics on wages for the second quarter of 1994 show that 1.8 per cent of workers in the agricultural sector earn an income that is lower than the applicable minimum wage. The Committee requests the Government to indicate for the agricultural sector, including agricultural cooperatives: (i) the various categories of employment and the approximate number of workers covered by the minimum wage regulations; (ii) the categories of employment and the numbers and categories of workers, in particular young workers, affected by wage rates that are lower than the minimum applicable rates. The Committee also requests the Government to supply copies of any legal provisions or regulations applicable to workers in the agricultural sector, including cooperatives, who are affected by wage rates that are lower than the established minimum rates.

The Committee refers to the comments that it is making under Convention No. 26.

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The Committee requests the Government to refer to the comments made under Convention No. 26.

The Committee notes from the general report of the Government the description of the principle of tripartite negotiation for minimum wage fixing, presently in force. It requests the Government to provide a detailed report on measures taken to give effect to each Article of the Convention, following the report form approved by the Governing Body, providing also copies of relevant legislation if they have not already been sent to the ILO.

[The Government is asked to report in detail for the period ending 30 June 1994.]