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Further to its previous request, the Committee notes that, following the adoption of the Wages Regulations (Manual Workers) (Amendment) Order, 2007 (Statutory Instrument No. 15 of 2007), the minimum hourly wage rate for manual workers engaged in agriculture was raised from BZD2.0 to BZD2.5 as from 1 April 2007, it being expected that a single minimum wage of BZD3.0 for all categories of workers will be established by 2010. The progressive readjustment of the minimum wage for agricultural workers over the next three years was part of the recommendations made by the Minimum Wages Council in 2006 with a view to establishing one minimum wage and eliminating the need for multiple worker categories. In this connection, the Committee notes that certain findings of the Minimum Wages Council might be a source of concern, for instance that one in every three persons in Belize is poor and unable to meet basic food and non-food costs, that the poverty rate in rural areas is double compared to the poverty rate in urban areas, and that almost 16 per cent of all workers are remunerated at the minimum pay rate. In the light of these findings, the Committee requests the Government to continue to supply detailed information on the practical application of the Convention, for instance, the approximate number of workers affected by the minimum wage especially in the agricultural sector, statistics on the evolution of the minimum wage in recent years as compared to the evolution of economic indicators such as the inflation rate in the same period, copies of any relevant surveys or reports, labour inspection results concerning compliance with the legislation on minimum wage, etc.

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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee understands that the Wages Regulation (Manual Workers) Order, 1992, fixing the minimum hourly rate for manual workers, including those engaged in agriculture, agro-industry or export-oriented industries, is still in force. Recalling that the ultimate objective of this Convention is to ensure to workers a minimum wage that affords a satisfactory standard of living to them and their families which makes it necessary that minimum wages should be adjusted from time to time in order to maintain the purchasing power in relation to a basic basket of essential consumer goods, the Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report whether consideration is being given, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Wages Council Act (Cap. 302), revised edition 2000, to the revision of the minimum wage rates for the agricultural sector. It also requests the Government to provide, in accordance with Article 5 of the Convention and Part V of the report form, up-to-date information on the practical application of the Convention, including for instance statistics on the approximate number and occupations of workers covered by relevant legislation, extracts from labour inspection reports, copies of any recent studies on minimum wage issues, as well as any other particulars concerning the operation of the minimum wage fixing machinery in respect of agricultural workers.

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The Committee notes the Government’s report. The Committee understands that the Wages Regulation (Manual Workers) Order, 1992, fixing the minimum hourly rate for manual workers, including those engaged in agriculture, agro-industry or export-oriented industries, is still in force. Recalling that the ultimate objective of this Convention is to ensure to workers a minimum wage that affords a satisfactory standard of living to them and their families which makes it necessary that minimum wages should be adjusted from time to time in order to maintain the purchasing power in relation to a basic basket of essential consumer goods, the Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report whether consideration is being given, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Wages Council Act (Cap. 302), revised edition 2000, to the revision of the minimum wage rates for the agricultural sector. It also requests the Government to provide, in accordance with Article 5 of the Convention and Part V of the report form, up-to-date information on the practical application of the Convention, including for instance statistics on the approximate number and occupations of workers covered by relevant legislation, extracts from labour inspection reports, copies of any recent studies on minimum wage issues, as well as any other particulars concerning the operation of the minimum wage fixing machinery in respect of agricultural workers.