Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Convention concerning Statistics of Wages and Hours of Work, 1938 (No. 63) - Uruguay (Ratification: 1954)

The Committee notes the Government’s brief report for the period ending May 2005 and the information provided in reply to its previous comments. It also notes the observation made by the Inter-Union Assembly of Workers – National Convention of Workers (PIT/CNT), received with the Government’s report on 22 September 2005. The Committee notes with interest that: (i) the methodology for the monthly average wage index (IMS) was revised and updated as from 2002, with the new index being based on December 2002 = 100, replacing the former index based on 1995 = 100; and that (ii) the methodology used for the Annual Survey of Economic Activity was also revised and updated as from 2002.

The Committee also notes that the coverage of agricultural workers remains limited to (a) the minimum wage rates in agriculture, and (b) earnings and other income from work, as well as the working hours of workers whose principal activity is in the primary sector (that is, agriculture, hunting, forestry and fishing), with the data being derived from the household survey. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to indicate whether it is envisaged extending the coverage of wage statistics in the agricultural sector so as to compile statistics in accordance with the provisions of Part IV of the Convention.

With reference to the comments made by the PIT/CNT, the Committee notes with interest that Wage Councils were established in 2005 and that categories of economic activities have been identified with representatives of employers and workers with a view to the adoption of collective accords on wages and other conditions of work. As the PIT/CNT expressed the hope that recent developments in industrial relations would lead to an improvement in the application of the Convention, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate to the ILO its viewpoint on this matter and provide any relevant information, as well as full particulars on any progress in relation to statistical surveys.

With reference to its general observation of 2000, the Committee once again requests the Government to consider the ratification of the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160), if necessary with the technical assistance of the ILO to facilitate the process, and it requests the Government to keep the ILO informed of any steps taken in this respect.