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

Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Bolivia (Plurinational State of) (Ratification: 1977)

Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the Government’s detailed report received in September 2013 in which it highlights the change towards a new model of economic and social development, the results of which are beginning to be seen in the redressal of economic inequality, the social inclusion of the indigenous population and the eradication of poverty. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the results of the National Development Plan (PND). The Committee notes the establishment of the Food Production Support Enterprise (EMAPA), the purpose of which is to support the food production chain, agriculture and stock-raising and agro-industry. In 2012, the activities of EMAPA benefited 3,336 farmers. The Committee invites the Government to continue supplying up-to-date information on the manner in which the General Economic and Social Development Plan has ensured the “improvement of standards of living” (Article 2 of the Convention). Furthermore, the Committee invites the Government to continue supplying information on government initiatives adopted to improve the standards of living of agricultural producers; and requests it to include in its next report information on the results obtained through those initiatives and through those intended to promote productive capacity (Article 4). The Committee also invites the Government to indicate the manner in which “essential family needs of the workers such as food and its nutritive value, housing, clothing, medical care and education” have been taken into account (Article 5(2)).

Article 4. The Committee notes the implementation of various projects to promote rural production and the adoption of Act No. 144 on community agricultural and stock-raising production revolution, in June 2011. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the measures adopted and their impact on the improvement of productive capacity and of standards of living of agricultural producers.

Part III. Migrant workers. The Committee notes that the 2013 Migration Act provides, in section 49, that migrant workers shall have the right to transfer their income and savings, in particular the funds necessary for the maintenance of their families, either to their country of origin or to any other country. The Committee invites the Government to include in its next report information on the transfer of Bolivian migrant workers’ resources to their regions of origin and on their wage conditions (Articles 7 and 8 – see also Article 14(3)). Please include information on migratory movements to and from Argentina and the situation of sugar and tobacco workers.

Part IV. Remuneration of the workers. In response to the previous comments, the Government indicates that it has not regulated the matters covered by Article 12 of the Convention. The Committee once again requests the Government to include in its next report information to enable it to examine court or administrative decisions that have regulated and limited advances on wages (Article 12).

Voluntary forms of thrift. The Government indicates that the Act on financial services, or the Banks Act, is in the process of being approved. The Act will enable the State to regulate and control banking operations, including fixing the rate of interest. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the impact of the new regulation of financial services on the protection of wage earners and independent producers against usury (Article 13(2)).

Part VI. Vocational education and training. The Committee refers to its previous comments and invites the Government to include information in its next report on the measures taken to progressively develop a broad system of education, vocational training and apprenticeship and on the way in which training in new production techniques has been organized as part of the policy giving effect to the Convention (Articles 15 and 16).