Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, 1928 (No. 26) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (Ratification: 1944)

The Committee notes the observations by the Federation of Chambers and Associations of Commerce and Production of Venezuela (FEDECAMARAS) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), received on 31 August and 27 November 2014, regarding the fact that according to these organizations, there had been no in-depth tripartite consultations with adequate time to express an opinion on the issue of minimum wage fixing.

Follow-up to the discussion of the Committee on the Application of Standards (International Labour Conference, 103rd Session, May–June 2014)

The Committee notes the discussion held in the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards. The Committee notes that, in the context of the Committee on the Application of Standards as well as in its report, the Government stated that: (1) according to the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela the State has an obligation to annually review and set the national minimum wage; and (2) in 2014, two adjustments of the minimum wage were made after consultations with the organizations of employers and workers in the working groups which were suggested at the initiative of the national executive.

As regards social dialogue, the Committee recalls that, within a broader context than that of minimum wages, the High-Level Tripartite Mission which visited the country in January 2014 recalled “the importance of creating the conditions necessary for initiating tripartite social dialogue with the most representative employers’ and workers’ organizations on matters relating to industrial relations, which requires a constructive spirit, good faith, mutual respect and respect for the freedom of association and independence of the parties, in depth discussions over a reasonable period, and efforts to find, as far as possible, shared solutions …”.

The Committee urges the Government to do its utmost in order to guarantee the full consultation and participation on an equal footing of the most representatives organizations of employers and workers with a view to establishing and applying minimum wage systems. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of any development on the issue and reminds it that it may seek technical assistance from the Office.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2016.]