Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

1. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s detailed report for the period ending in June 2003. The Committee refers back to the comments on employment policy and on education and training policies that it made in 2004 in connection with the application of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), and the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142). These comments addressed issues directly related to Convention No. 117.

2. Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Government has provided information on the launch of the Fome Zero (Zero Hunger) programme, which aims to combat the poverty that, in 2001, affected 46 million people. According to the Government’s report, most poverty is found, not in rural areas of Brazil, but in urban areas, mainly in medium and small-sized towns in the provinces. The rural population represents around 25 per cent of the poor; 7.7 million members of poor families are illiterate, which means that illiteracy affects 4.4 million families. The Government understands that combating hunger should not be considered as a "cost", but as an investment for the country. A special ministry is responsible for taking measures aimed at promoting food safety and combating hunger. Furthermore, a national agrarian reform plan has been drawn up. In its previous comments, the Committee referred to the situation of the "landless workers" and the measures taken within the framework of the Agrarian Reform and Settlement Institute (INCRA). The Committee hopes that the Government will be able to include, in its next report, an update on the way in which it is ensured that "the improvement of standards of living" is regarded as "the principal objective in the planning of economic development" (Article 2 of the Convention) and that it will indicate the results achieved in its fight against poverty. In this regard, the Committee reminds the Government that, in order to ascertain the minimum standards of living of independent producers and wage earners "account shall be taken of such essential family needs of the workers as food and its nutritive value, housing, clothing, medical care and education" (Article 5, paragraph 2, of the Convention).

3. Part IV. Remuneration of workers. In its previous comments, the Committee indicated that the provisions of the Consolidation of Labour Laws did not appear to give effect to all the requirements of Article 12 of the Convention as regards advances on wages. The Committee hopes that the Government’s next report will indicate the measures envisaged or adopted to determine the maximum amount and manner of repayment of advances on wages in accordance with the Convention.