Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Eswatini (Ratification: 1992)

The Committee notes the Government’s report received in November 2010, which included statistics compiled from the 2007–08 Labour Force Survey. The Committee notes that the statistics provided by the Government were used to update the ILO statistical database LABORSTA. The Committee invites the Government to further provide in its next report updated information on the following matters.

Article 2 of the Convention. ILO standards and guidance. The Committee invites the Government to indicate whether it has incorporated the latest standards and guidelines established under the auspices of the ILO regarding the collection, compilation and publication of statistics for the implementation of each Article of the Convention for which the obligations were accepted (i.e. Articles 7, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 15).

Article 7. Labour force participation. The Committee notes the statistics provided by the Government in its report of the economically active population from the 2007–08 Labour Force Survey for all persons aged 15 and over by age groups, and by sex (without age groups). The Committee invites the Government to also provide in its next report any further available current statistics of the economically active population, as well as employment, unemployment and, if available, underemployment. In accordance with Article 5, please also indicate for this labour force survey: (a) the title and reference number of the principal publication in which the statistics appear; (b) the form and frequency in which statistics are communicated to the ILO; and (c) the periodicity of the survey and relevant statistics or the most recent date for which they are available, at the time the report is submitted.

Article 8. Structure and distribution. The Committee while noting the 2007–08 Labour Force Survey statistics on the economically active population provided by the Government, invites the Government to indicate the date of the next planned population census, and to provide information regarding its coverage of statistics to be compiled on the structure and distribution of the economically active population and its components.

Article 10. Earnings and hours of work. The Government reiterates in its report that statistics with respect to wages and hours of work by main components and the distribution of employees by levels of earnings and hours of work have not yet been compiled. Keeping in mind that this Article was accepted, the Committee invites the Government to include in its next report information on progress made towards its application.

Article 12. Consumer price indices (CPI). The Government indicates that the inflation report for October 2010 containing a detailed methodological description of the national and main group of CPI and the inflation rate for October 2010, as well as inflation rates for 2009 and 2010, was attached to its report. The Committee notes that these data were not found with the report. The Committee therefore invites the Government to include in its next report the relevant consumer price indices computed in conformity with Article 12. It also invites the Government to include information on the manner in which the representative organizations of employers and workers were consulted (Article 3) and on the other relevant data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6. In addition, the Committee wishes to remind the Government of its obligation to reply to the ILO Yearbook questionnaire and to supply regularly all items and food group indices to the ILO. Alternatively, the Government is requested to indicate, if available, the website where CPI data is available.

Article 13. Household expenditures. The Committee notes the tables submitted by the Government in its report, which were extracted from the 2007–08 Labour Force Survey. It once again invites the Government to provide statistics of household expenditure or, where appropriate, family expenditure and other data according to this provision of the Convention.

Article 14. Occupational injuries. The Government states that the information on occupational injuries is not yet available and will be forwarded once compiled. The Committee once again invites the Government to: (a) compile and publish statistics on occupational injuries and, as far as possible, on cases of occupational diseases; and (b) communicate the published statistics to the ILO as well as detailed descriptions of the sources, concepts, definitions and methodology used in their collection and compilation.

Article 15. Industrial disputes. The Committee notes with interest that the statistics on industrial disputes concerning all branches of economic activity for 2007–08 were provided by the Government in its report. The Committee would welcome continuing to receiving statistics on industrial disputes. It also invites the Government to include information on the manner in which the representative organizations of employers and workers were consulted (Article 3) and the other relevant statistics in accordance with Articles 5 and 6.

Article 16(4). Position of the national law and practice on the matters not accepted. ILO technical assistance. The Government indicates in its report that the only statistics which were forwarded are those shown in the report. Other statistics will be forwarded once available. The Committee would welcome any information relating to future developments with regard to Articles 9(2) and 11. With regard to Article 9(1), it encourages the Government to communicate any information available on average monthly wages by economic activity, as soon as practicable. In this regard, the Government might wish to request technical assistance from the relevant units of the ILO to ensure the effective implementation of the Convention.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2014.]