Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131) - Latvia (Ratification: 1993)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation, which read as follows:

Further to its previous comments the Committee notes with interest the information supplied by the Government in its report according to which:

-  the Latvian Free Trade Union Federation (LBAS) concluded two general agreements with the Latvian Employers’ Confederation on minimum remuneration for work on 27 April 1998 and on 5 May 1999;

-  22 agreements covering 30 per cent of wage-earners have been concluded between sectorial trade unions and sectorial associations of employers which fix guarantees of minimum remuneration for work of a much higher level than the national minimum monthly wage.

The Committee takes note of the Government’s information that, in the period of time from 1990 to 1998, the rise of consumer prices (inflation) has been almost twice as rapid as the rise of workers’ remuneration. The Committee therefore hopes that the Government will continue providing information on the fixing and adjustment of minimum wages and on the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure the direct participation of representatives of organizations of employers and workers concerned, on an equal basis, in the machinery for fixing or adjusting minimum wages.

The Committee raises other points in a direct request to the Government.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.