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

Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Guatemala (Ratification: 1989)

Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2013, which emphasizes the measures taken to address agrarian debt. It is planned to reduce the debt of rural workers through the purchase of land and the reactivation of production. The Committee notes the Special Land Leasing Programme and the deeds granted under the State Land Regularization Programme. The Committee also notes the adoption of a National Comprehensive Development Policy and the approval of the 2011–15 Agricultural and Farming Policy. The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food (MAGA) is developing the “Family farming programme for the strengthening of the rural economy” (PAFFEC 2012–15). The PAFFEC components that are currently being implemented are those aimed at: a sustainable increase in family production for food security, access to markets and inclusion in value chains, and institutional development for family agriculture. The Committee once again invites the Government to include in its next report an updated summary of the results obtained and the initiatives taken to ensure that “the improvement of standards of living” is regarded as the principal objective in the planning of economic development (Article 2 of the Convention). The Committee also invites the Government to continue providing information on the government initiatives adopted to improve the standards of living of agricultural producers and to include information in its next report on the results achieved by these initiatives, and by the initiatives aimed at increasing productive capacity (Article 4).

Part IV. Remuneration of workers. In its previous comments, the Committee expressed its interest in the provisions relating to advances on wages in the collective agreements sent by the Government, including regulations on the maximum amounts and manner of repayment of advances on wages (Article 12(1) of the Convention). The Committee once again invites the Government to include in its next report examples of collective agreements which contain provisions respecting advances on wages. Please also indicate whether courts of law have issued decisions on the subjects covered by Article 12 of the Convention.