Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Benin (Ratification: 2000)

The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending September 2009, which contains information in reply to its previous comments. It also notes the statistical documents attached to the report (Decree No. 97/168 of 7 April 1997 approving the statutes of the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Analysis (INSAE); the INSAE’s statutes; the summary report on the 2007 integrated modular survey of household living conditions (EMICoV); and the statistical reports from 2007 and 2008 concerning occupational accidents, accompanied by an analysis of the period 2003–2008). The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the following points.

Article 7 of the Convention. Statistics of the economically active population, employment and unemployment. The Committee notes that a survey entitled “Integrated modular survey of household living conditions” (EMICoV) was conducted in 2007 and that a summary report on that survey was sent by the Government. Although the report provides some data on the economically active population, employment and unemployment, no information has been provided concerning the sources, concepts, definitions and methodology used, as required under Article 6. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would keep the ILO informed of any developments relating to the survey of the economically active population.

Article 8. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population, employment and unemployment. The Committee notes that a population census carried out in 2002 provides statistics on the workforce, employment and unemployment. The Committee requests the Government to provide methodological information concerning the statistics of the workforce, employment and unemployment derived from the 2002 census. It also requests it to provide the information required by the ILO questionnaires concerning the methodology.

Articles 9–11. Statistics of hours of work and wages. The Committee notes that the Government does not indicate whether the surveys (see EMICoV and the 2007 survey of population growth and health (EDS)) will cover average earnings, average hours of work, time rates of wages and normal hours of work (Article 9) or whether statistics of wage structure and distribution and labour cost will be compiled (Articles 10 and 11). Noting that the Government is not bound by the obligations under Articles 9–11, the Committee would be grateful if it would keep the Office informed of any developments relating to Articles 9–11. In this regard, it draws the Government’s attention to the new international standards established by Resolution I concerning the measurement of working time, adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, which defines extensive concepts and measures in detail (see http://www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Statistics/standards/resolutions/lang--en/

docName--WCMS_112455/index.htm).

Article 12. Consumer price indices. The Committee notes that no specific information has been provided by the Government in reply to its previous comments concerning consumer price indices and that there seems to have been no change in the compilation of relevant statistics. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide full and detailed information on the population groups covered by the statistics compiled.

Article 13. Statistics of household income and expenditure. The Committee notes that while the Government indicates that the standards used in the integrated modular survey of household living conditions are the same as those used for the 2007 survey of population growth and health, it does not indicate to which standards it is referring (Article 2). However, it does indicate that the employers’ and workers’ organizations were consulted as members of the National Statistics Commission (Article 3). According to the Government, another household survey was conducted in 2003, entitled “Survey of household income and expenditure”. The Committee requests the Government to provide the information required under Articles 2 and 6 concerning the 2003 survey of household income and expenditure and to indicate, in accordance with Article 5(b), the most recent dates or periods for which the different types of statistics are available and the dates of their publication or release.

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries. The Committee notes that the statistics of occupational injuries compiled cover all workers who are subject to the provisions of the Labour Code and members of the National Social Security Fund. The most recent data sent to the ILO relates to 2004. No other information is available on this matter. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the obligations derived from Articles 2, 5 and 6, and requests it to provide relevant information concerning the statistics of occupational injuries, as well as occupational diseases, if such statistics are also compiled. If statistics of occupational diseases are not compiled, the Government is requested to indicate why.

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. Noting that the statistics of industrial disputes cover the entire national territory and all branches of economic activity covered by the Labour Code, the Committee notes that the Government has not provided the methodological information required under Article 2, 5 and 6 concerning these statistics. The Committee requests the Government to provide the information required by Articles 2, 5 and 6 concerning the statistics of industrial disputes.