Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Latvia (Ratification: 1994)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning Articles 3 and 9 of the Convention. It notes in this regard that consultations are held with employers’ and workers’ organizations when developing the indicators to be included in the annual State statistical information programme. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any changes made in relation to the application of these provisions.

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes the information provided on the major definitions of indicators and notes that the results of the Labour Force Survey (LFS) are published on the website of the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia (CSB). It also notes that the Government continues to supply data to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination through its website (ILOSTAT). The latest LFS figures relate to 2014. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply data and information on the methodology used in the application of these provisions. It also invites the Government to provide information on any developments in relation to the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

The Committee notes the following information concerning the Articles of Part II of the Convention in respect of which the Government has not accepted the obligations of the Convention (Article 16(4)).

Articles 9(1) and 10. Current statistics of average earnings and hours of work. Statistics of wage structure and distribution. The Committee notes that current statistics of average gross and net monthly earnings of employees and hours actually worked and paid for the whole economy continue to be compiled monthly, quarterly and annually from Enterprise Surveys. It further notes that statistics on the distribution of full-time employees according to levels of earnings had been compiled through an annual survey, but that collection ceased in 2007 due to resource constraints. However, since 2009, the CSB compiles and publishes information about the distribution of employees according to earnings based on administrative records. The Committee invites the Government to continue to supply statistics on the application of these provisions and to consider accepting the obligations under Articles 9(1) and 10.

Article 11. Statistics of labour cost. The Committee notes that statistics of average hourly labour costs by economic activity of employees by branch of economic activity are collected from an establishment survey and from administrative data. The Government indicates that the selection framework for the survey is formed by using information from the Statistical Register of Enterprises and Organisations. The Committee further notes that these statistics are regularly communicated to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination through ILOSTAT, with the latest data referring to 2014. The Committee would welcome continuing to receive statistics of average labour costs and invites the Government to consider accepting the obligations under this Article.

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries. The Committee notes that, while the obligations under this Article have not been accepted, statistics on fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, disaggregated by economic activity and occupation, are regularly communicated to the ILO Department of Statistics via the corresponding chapter of its annual questionnaire on labour statistics. Moreover, the Committee notes from the report the latest modifications in the procedures for reporting and investigating occupational accidents and the summarized statistics provided on accidents registered in 2010–14, derived from State Labour Inspectorate records. The Committee invites the Government to continue to supply statistics on occupational injuries and to consider accepting the obligations under this Article.

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. The Committee notes that the Government regularly communicates statistics on strikes and lockouts, disaggregated by economic activity and derived from an establishment survey, to the ILO Department of Statistics. The Committee invites the Government to continue to supply statistics of industrial disputes and to consider accepting the obligations under this Article.