Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1989, published 76th ILC session (1989)

Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131) - Bolivia (Plurinational State of) (Ratification: 1977)

The Committee refers to its previous comments on the consultation of employers' organisations with regard to the minimum wage-fixing machinery, and to the conclusions of the Committee set up to examine the representation made by the Confederation of Private Employers of Bolivia, under article 24 of the ILO Constitution, which were approved by the Governing Body of the ILO at its 228th Session. The Committee refers in particular to the recommendations that the Government should adopt measures to ensure the required consultations with both employers' and workers' organisations concerning the establishment, operation and modification of wage-fixing machinery, and to provide information on this matter. The Committee noted the Government's statement concerning the minimum wage-fixing machinery which is based on a sliding scale of wages and salaries linked to the variations registered by the Consumer Prices Index (IPC).

The Committee notes that, in its report, the Government states that the principle of individual or collective bargaining is fully applied pursuant to the provisions of section 62 of Supreme Decree No. 21060 of 30 August 1985, designed essentially to avert inflation and the multiplicity of minimum wages formerly fixed under pressure from the workers without regard for the economic variables which should normally be taken into consideration in establishing a coherent policy suited to the circumstances and factors of a global economic crisis. The Committee observes that, under Article 1, paragraph 1 of the Convention, each Member which ratifies this Convention undertakes to establish a system of minimum wages which covers all groups of wage-earners whose terms of employment are such that coverage would be appropriate. The free determination of wages by agreement of the parties concerned or by negotiation between employers and workers would not appear to constitute an adequate minimum wage-fixing system in the meaning of the present Convention. Furthermore, the Government indicates that the sliding scale of wages is no longer in force and that a single national minimum wage has been established which will increase annually in proportion to the Consumer Prices Index.

The Committee requests the Government to state whether the National Wages Council set up by Supreme Decree No. 11706 of 16 August 1974 was consulted regarding the establishment of a national minimum wage which has replaced the sliding scale system, and whether the workers' and employers' organisations concerned were consulted, in accordance with the provisions of Article 4, paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Convention. It also requests the Government to provide a copy of the text repealing Supreme Decree No. 19462 of 15 March 1983.

The Committee refers to other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.