Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Australia (Ratification: 1987)

Other comments on C160

Direct Request

Display in: French - SpanishView all

Article 7 of the Convention. Underemployment statistics. The Committee notes that the main sources for statistics on the labour force (formerly known as the economically active population), both for employment and unemployment, continue to be the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which is conducted on a monthly basis, and the Census of Population and Housing, which is conducted every five years, the latest one having taken place in 2011. The statistics derived from both sources are representative of the country as a whole. The LFS also provides statistics on visible underemployment. The Committee notes that the frequency of collection and dissemination of underemployment statistics has been increased as of July 2014 from quarterly to monthly. Moreover, the scope of the concept of underemployment will be expanded, but this change will not hinder the production of statistics in accordance with the ILO definition of underemployment. The Committee notes with interest the intention of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to implement the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour utilization, adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013). The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any developments made pertaining to the collection and dissemination of underemployment statistics. Please also keep the ILO informed of any developments towards the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization.

Article 8. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes that the ABS is modifying its programme of supplementary surveys. Modifications will mainly affect the frequency of collection of statistics on specific labour-related topics. The Committee invites the Government to keep the ILO informed of any changes made to the programme of supplementary surveys.

Article 9. Statistics of average earnings and of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. In reply to the 2010 direct request, the Government indicates that, in accordance with the Resolution concerning the measurement of working time adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (November–December 2008), the ABS collects and disseminates statistics on hours actually worked and hours usually worked from its monthly Labour Force Survey, and on hours paid for from the Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership (EEBTUM) survey, an annual supplement to the Labour Force Survey, and the Employee Earnings and Hours (EEH) survey, a biennial establishment survey. The Committee invites the Government to provide available information on statistics on normal hours of work. Please also keep the ILO informed of any changes made to the programme of supplementary surveys, such as modifications to the Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership survey.

Article 11. Statistics of labour cost. The Committee notes that information on statistics on major labour costs is available in the Major Labour Costs (MLC) survey. The latest data available is from the MLC survey conducted in 2010–11. Similar surveys were conducted annually in respect of the financial years from 1985–86 to 1991–92, and then in 1993–94, 1996–97 and 2002–03. The Committee refers to the Resolution concerning statistics of labour cost adopted by the 11th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 1966) indicating that it is desirable that data should be collected at intervals not exceeding five years. The Committee invites the Government to provide the ILO with available information on labour cost statistics for years after 2003. Please also keep the ILO informed of any changes made to the frequency of collection of statistics of labour cost.

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. In reply to the 2010 direct request, the Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government of its plan to review and improve the industrial disputes statistics with a view to reflecting the recent developments in workplace relations and to better meet the data users’ needs. The Committee invites the Government to keep the ILO informed of any developments in the review of statistics of industrial disputes, and to provide information on the implementation of any changes in this regard.