Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Mexico (Ratification: 1988)

The Committee notes the Government's reports, as well as the attached comment by the Confederation of Workers of Mexico (CTM), which emphasizes the importance of labour statistics as established in this Convention and in accordance with the recommendations of the Fifteenth International Conference of Labour Statisticians. The Committee notes the information regarding Article 2 (as regards Articles 11, 12, 14 and 15), Article 3 (as regards Articles 9 and 14), Articles 6 and 12 and Article 13 (in connection with Article 16(3)) of the Convention.

Article 3. The Government indicates that, in elaborating or revising the concepts, definitions and methodology of the economically active population statistics as provided for in Article 7, the National Institute of Statistics, Geography and Informatics (INEGI) invites the major users to participate in discussion groups. Please state whether the employers' and workers' organizations are included in such discussion groups. Please also indicate the manner in which the employers' and workers' organizations are consulted in designing or revising the concepts, definitions and methodology used concerning the consumer price index under Article 12 and the statistics of industrial disputes under Article 15.

Article 9. In connection with Article 2, the Committee notes the Government's indication that various surveys conform with the United Nations' recommendations concerning industrial statistics. It asks the Government to state which, if any, ILO standards and guidelines are followed. The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would communicate to the Office the statistics published by INEGI, as soon as possible, in accordance with Article 5.

Article 11. The Government indicates in its report that Mexico did not undertake to compile statistics of labour cost. The Committee points out that, at the time of ratification, Mexico accepted obligations under Articles 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14 and 15, and requests the Government to indicate measures taken or contemplated to compile the statistics of labour costs covering important branches of economic activity.

Article 14. The Committee notes the comprehensive information concerning statistics of occupational injuries and the development of a national information system of work hazards ("riesgos de trabajo") contained in the documents attached to the Government's report. It also notes that the statistics communicated to the ILO (in accordance with Article 5) so far relate only to all industries together. The Committee hopes that the Government will indicate in its future reports any development in classifying these statistics according to branch of economic activity.

Article 15. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on any changes in methodology and on the latest developments of the planned updating of the system concerning statistics of industrial disputes referred to in the Government's report.

Article 17. Regarding Article 7, the Committee notes the Government's indication that the geographical scope of the National Urban Employment Survey (ENEU) will be extended to cover 36 areas instead of 12. It also notes that supplementary steps seem to have been taken in order to cover also rural areas by conducting specific inquiries. The Committee requests the Government to supply details of these specific inquiries in rural areas and information on any further measures taken to extend the coverage to the country as a whole. As to Articles 9 and 11, the Committee notes that a monthly survey appears to have been conducted in wholesale and retail trade (Monthly Commerce Survey), which covers metropolitan areas and provides employment data. It requests the Government to indicate whether other topics such as earnings are covered by this survey and also to continue to supply information on any progress made in extending the scope of statistics of earnings and hours of work and of labour cost. Finally, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on the extension of the coverage of statistics of labour conflicts also to enterprises of local jurisdiction.