Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Nicaragua (Ratification: 1981)

Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the detailed information supplied by the Government in the report received in August 2013, in reply to the 2009 direct request. The Government states that the National Human Development Plan (PNDH 2012–16) gives top priority to economic growth with more employment and reduced poverty and inequality, reaffirming the objective of improving the living standards of all Nicaraguans, particularly the poorest among them. The Committee hopes that the Government will include in its next report an updated summary of the results achieved by the PNDH 2012–16 and the other initiatives taken to ensure that “the improvement of standards of living” has been regarded as the principal objective of economic development plans (Article 2 of the Convention).

Part III. Migrant workers. The Committee notes the activities undertaken in the context of the bi-national agreement signed by Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and particularly the agreed model employment contract devised for Nicaraguan workers employed in Costa Rica. The Government indicates that the persons covered by the temporary workers’ programme sign their contracts at the border (Peñas Blancas) in the presence of an official of the Ministry of Labour of Nicaragua. It further indicates that during the period covered by the report, labour migration flows amounted to 10,008 persons. The Committee invites the Government to continue to report on the progress made on issues relating to labour migration covered by the Convention.

Article 13. Voluntary thrift. The Committee takes note of the Government’s indications regarding the increase in savings in 2012 and the gradual development of new financial services for members of savings and loans cooperatives and for the population in general. It notes the establishment in June 2012 of the Ministry of Family Economy, Communities, Cooperatives and Associations. The Committee invites the Government to continue to report on the manner in which savings and loan cooperatives have contributed to encouraging voluntary forms of thrift among wage earners and independent producers.