Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, 1928 (No. 26) - Belgium (Ratification: 1937)

The Committee notes with interest the Government’s detailed report and the information provided in annex, particularly relating to the adaptation to the new European currency of all the provisions of labour law containing financial references and the fluctuations in wage costs, taking into account the wage margins established by the inter-occupational agreement for the period 2001-02. It requests the Government to provide the information requested on the following points.

Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention. The Committee notes that the minimum monthly guaranteed income (RMMG) is applicable to workers of both sexes, aged over 21 years, employed full time for at least one month. It notes that, under the terms of the relevant inter-occupational collective agreements, workers aged between 16 and 21 years are also covered by the RMMG but at a degressive rate of 6 per cent a year below the age of 21 years, while workers who are at least 22 years of age and have one year of occupational experience benefit from an incremented rate of the RMMG. The Committee would be grateful to be provided with information concerning the number of workers covered by reduced rates of the minimum wage and, with reference to paragraph 176 of its General Survey of 1992 on minimum wages, it requests the Government to indicate whether a re-examination has been undertaken or is currently envisaged of the reasons that prompted the adoption of lower minimum wage rates based on the age of workers in the light of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value.

The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would continue to provide, in accordance with Article 5 of the Convention, in conjunction with Part V of the report form, general information on the application of the Convention in practice, including for example: (i) changes in the minimum wage rates in force; (ii) the statistics available on the number of workers covered by the regulations respecting minimum wage rates; and (iii) the results of the inspections undertaken (for example, the violations reported, sanctions adopted, etc.).