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

Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131) - Yemen (Ratification: 1976)

Article 4 of the Convention. Minimum wage fixing machinery. Full consultation and direct participation of employers’ and workers’ organizations. With further reference to its previous observations, the Committee regrets to note that no steps have been taken for the effective implementation of the Convention in either law or practice. Even though the minimum wage for public employees (20,000 Yemeni rials (YER) or approximately US$93 per month) is, in principle, also applicable to the private sector, no minimum wage fixing machinery exists and no provision is made for tripartite consultations on these matters. As regards the reactivation of the tripartite Labour Council, on which the Committee has been commenting for a number of years, the Government indicates that it has not been possible to advance for technical reasons. The Government further indicates that it intends to revive the process for the amendment of the Labour Code in the near future. While noting these explanations, the Committee is bound to recall that by ratifying the Convention the Government committed itself to establishing a system of minimum wages covering all groups of wage earners through procedures or practices guaranteeing the full consultation with, and the direct participation of, representative organizations of employers and workers and ensuring the review and adjustment of the level of minimum wages from time to time having regard to the social and economic conditions prevailing in the country. The Committee therefore asks the Government to take all necessary action without further delay with a view to setting up and operating a minimum wage fixing machinery based on genuine tripartite consultations, as required under the Convention.