Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, 1928 (No. 26) - Argentina (Ratification: 1950)

1. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government in reply to its previous comments, and the comments made by the United Maritime Workers Trade Union (SOMU) concerning the failure to comply with the provisions of the Convention with regard to fishing workers.

2. According to the SOMU, the basic wage rates of fishing workers are drastically low and well below the parameters established by the National Council for Employment, Productivity and the Minimum Adjustable Living Wage, which have been in force since 1 January 1993, and which set the figure of $200 a month for all personnel who work the statutory period of eight hours a day. Taking into account the fact that the minimum wage can be fixed by collective agreement, SOMU requested the Ministry of Labour to convoke the employer's representatives to collective negotiations with the principal objective of adjusting the current basic wage rates for fishing workers.

3. In view of the fact that the Government's report does not reply to the comments made by the SOMU, the Committee requests the Government to supply information on the measures which have been adopted or are envisaged to give effect to the request of the SOMU and thereby guarantee the payment of the minimum wage to fishing workers.

4. The Committee is also addressing a request directly to the Government on other matters.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 1999.]