Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

The Committee notes the observations made by the National Union of Food Industry Workers (SINALTRAINAL) concerning the refusal by certain enterprises in the food sector to apply the 19.5 per cent adjustment of the minimum wage for all Colombian workers decided upon by the Government as from 1 January 1996. It notes that these observations were transmitted to the Government by a letter dated 26 February 1996.

In the absence of a reply by the Government, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures that have been taken or are envisaged to ensure that the minimum rates of wages which have been fixed are binding on the employers and workers concerned, in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 2, of the Convention and are effectively applied in accordance with Article 4.

With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes that section 175 of the General Education Act (No. 115 of 8 February 1994) provides that the wage system of educational staff in state services at the departmental, district and municipal levels shall be determined by Legislative Decree No. 2277 of 1979, Act No. 4(a) of 1992 and other texts which amend or supplement them. The Committee requests the Government: (i) to transmit the texts that are in force concerning the minimum wage rates applicable in accordance with the statutory minimum wage established for the national territory; (ii) to indicate whether these rates apply to all regions, including the Department of Santander, which was explicitly mentioned in the observations made previously by the General Confederation of Workers (CGT); and (iii) to indicate the measures which have been taken or are envisaged to ensure the application at the local level of the above minimum wage rates.