Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Brazil (Ratification: 1990)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government on the structure of earnings, including details on the components (Article 10 of the Convention). The Committee also takes note of the detailed information provided concerning statistics on industrial disputes for the years 1983–2012 (Article 15).

Articles 7 and 8. Statistics of employment, unemployment and underemployment. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes the data provided by the Government on the economically active population as well as the methodological information reported. Statistics on the economically active population, employment and unemployment, as well as population census data, have been regularly supplied to the Department of Statistics of the ILO. However, the Committee notes that unemployment data by activity and occupation has not been provided. The Committee invites the Government to provide data on unemployment according to the International Standard Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) and the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO). It also invites the Government to keep the ILO informed of any developments towards 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).

Article 9(1). Statistics on average earnings and hours of work. Communication of Statistics. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government on the components of statistics on remuneration. Statistics of average monthly earnings are derived from the Labour Force Survey entitled, Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicilios. The Committee requests that the Government transmit the latest statistics on the weekly hours usually worked from the Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicilios as well as a detailed description of the methodology used.

Article 13. Statistics of household expenditure. The Government identifies in its report the Pesquisa de Orçamentos Familiares (POF) as the main source of statistics of household income and expenditure. The Committee notes that this household survey is conducted at irregular intervals, the latest two rounds having taken place in 2002–03 and 2008–09. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the fact that, according to the resolution concerning household income and expenditure statistics adopted by the 17th International Conference of Labour Statisticians in December 2003, major household expenditure surveys should be undertaken preferably at intervals not exceeding five years. The Committee requests that the Government provide information on the measures envisaged in order to give effect to the resolution concerning household income and expenditure statistics, as regards intervals between major household expenditure surveys.

Articles 11 and 14. Statistics of labour costs. Statistics of occupational injuries. The Committee takes note of the information supplied by the Government on the subjects covered by Articles 11 and 14 of the Convention, the obligations under which the Government has not accepted. The Government provides information on the components constituting statistics on “labour costs”, namely worker remuneration, as well as 13th salary, severance and termination pay, remuneration for time not worked, bonuses and gratuities. Statistics on occupational accidents are disseminated on an annual basis in a joint publication of the Labour Ministry and the Ministry of Social Welfare entitled Anuário Estatístico de Acidentes do Trabalho (AEAT – Occupational Accidents Statistical Yearbook). This includes statistics of reported occupational accidents and occupational accidents that gave rise to the payment of benefits, with a number of disaggregations such as region and economic activity. Moreover, monthly statistics on compensated occupational diseases are compiled and disseminated through the Ministry of Social Welfare’s dataset, Informações Estatísticas Relativas à Segurança e Saúde Ocupacional (Statistical Information on Occupational Safety and Health). The Committee requests that the Government keep the ILO informed of any development regarding the compilation and dissemination of the abovementioned statistics. Additionally, in view of the fact that the provisions of both Article 11 and 14 are in general applied, the Committee invites the Government to examine the possibility of accepting the obligations of these provisions (Article 16(4)).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Part I of the report form. Legislation. The Committee notes with interest the laws and regulations listed in the Government’s previous report and the new regulatory body introduced during the period under review, namely the Deliberative Body of the Workers Support Fund (CODEFAT). CODEFAT established the Management Committee for the Employment and Unemployment Survey (PED) System by Resolution No. 530 of 9 April 2007, which is responsible for:

–           establishing procedures and guidelines to structure a national information system on the basis of the results obtained from the PED;

–           monitoring the implementation of the PED’s in the various regions, ensuring uniformity and methodological consistency for the decentralized implementation of the survey;

–           suggesting to the Deliberative Body of the CODEFAT criteria for conducting special thematic or regional versions of the PED;

–           recommending to CODEFAT measures to perfect the PED methodologically, as well as to produce new indicators to assist with the policies and activities of the Public System of Employment, Labour and Income.

Article 7 of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no information in reply to its previous direct request. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide the ILO with the unemployment data classified by the International Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities (ISIC) and the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) (Article 5).

Article 8. The Committee asks the Government to provide the ILO with methodological information regarding the forthcoming 2010 population census as well as a detailed description of the methodology used in the 2000 population census.

Article 9. The Committee encourages the Government to shorten the time lag between the compilation of statistics requested under this Article and their publication and to transmit them as soon as they are available, in particular with respect to earnings statistics.

Article 10. The Committee notes with concern that no information is provided in the report relating to the structure of earnings, and there is no evidence that data on the structure of earnings are compiled. Details on components of earnings such as basic pay, premium pay for overtime, remuneration for time not worked and bonuses and gratuities and hours of work are not available in the ILO. The Committee is therefore bound to reiterate its repeated previous requests to the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to compile and publish statistics of wage structure including detailed data on the composition of earnings (basic pay, overtime pay, remuneration for time not worked and bonuses and gratuities), and of average hours of work (actually worked or paid).

The Committee also draws the Government’s attention to the requirements of this Article, which also provides that statistics on the structure of earnings should be compiled at regular intervals, if possible every five years. Accordingly, it asks the Government to indicate the steps it envisages to take, if any, in order to meet the requirements of this Article.

Article 13. The Committee once again asks the Government to inform the ILO about the manner in which representative organizations of employers and workers were consulted when the concepts, definitions and methodology used for the statistics referred to in this Article were designed. It would also be grateful if the Government would inform the ILO of any survey conducted since 2003, or of plans to conduct one.

Article 15. Noting with interest that the Government has started providing the ILO with data in compliance with this Article, the Committee asks the Government to send relevant data, classified by the ISIC, for the year 2005 and onwards, as well as the new series on Strikes and lockouts: Rates of days not worked, by economic activity.

Article 16. The Committee would like to draw the Government’s attention to the fact that the statistics on labour costs requested under this provision are limited to the manufacturing industries only and that they cover employees. Even though the obligations of this Article were not accepted at the time of ratification, the Committee asks the Government whether it intends to extend the compilation of such statistics to other important branches of economic activity (Article 11).

Article 14. Even though the obligations of this Article were not accepted at the time of ratification, the Committee requests the Government to: (i) note that the relevant statistics currently compiled relate only to paid employees covered by social benefits; and (ii) keep the ILO informed of any plans the Government may have to extend the coverage of statistics.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the Government’s report received in October 2004, and the information elements it contains in reply to its previous request. The Committee invites the Government to supply additional information in its next report on the following points.

1. Consultation with organizations of employers and workers. Article 3 of the Convention. Please describe how representative organizations of employers and workers are consulted in formulating or revising the concepts, definitions and methodology used in preparing the statistics referred to in the Convention. Please describe the role of CODEFAT in this respect.

2. Communication of statistics to the ILO. Article 5. Referring to its previous requests, the Committee again asks the Government to communicate to the Office, in response to the questionnaires for the Yearbook of Labour Statistics, data derived from the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) on unemployment by branch of activity on the basis of the International Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities (ISIC) and by occupation on the basis of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO), or to indicate any obstacle to communication of this data. In addition, the Committee asks the Government to transmit to the Office the results of the 2002–03 survey on household income and expenditure.

3. Communication to the ILO of the methodology used. Article 6(b). Please communicate to the Office a detailed description of the methodology used in the 2000 population census.

4. Wage structure and distribution. Article 10. Referring to its repeated previous requests, the Committee once again asks the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to compile and publish statistics of wage structure including detailed data on the composition of earnings (basic pay, overtime pay, remuneration for time not worked and bonuses and gratuities), and of average hours of work (actually worked or paid).

5. Industrial disputes. Article 15. Referring to its previous requests, the Committee once again asks the Government to supply detailed information on any measures taken or envisaged to compile statistics on labour disputes throughout the country and for all branches of economic activity.

6. Obligations not accepted. Article 16, paragraph 4. The Committee notes that statistics on the number of manufacturing industry wage earners and their pay taken from the Annual Industrial Survey are regularly transmitted to the Office. It asks the Government to indicate whether it envisages extending the compilation of such statistics to other important branches of economic activity (Article 11). Referring to its previous request, the Committee also asks the Government to indicate whether new measures are envisaged to extend statistical coverage on occupational injuries so as to be representative of the country as a whole (Article 14).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and the information elements it contains in reply to its previous request. The Committee invites the Government to supply additional information in its next report on the following points.

1. Consultation with organizations of employers and workers. Article 3 of the Convention. Please describe how representative organizations of employers and workers are consulted in formulating or revising the concepts, definitions and methodology used in preparing the statistics referred to in the Convention. Please describe the role of CODEFAT in this respect.

2. Communication of statistics to the ILO. Article 5. Referring to its previous requests, the Committee again asks the Government to communicate to the Office, in response to the questionnaires for the Yearbook of Labour Statistics, data derived from the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD) on unemployment by branch of activity on the basis of the International Standard Industrial Classification of all Economic Activities (ISIC) and by occupation on the basis of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO), or to indicate any obstacle to communication of this data. In addition, the Committee asks the Government to transmit to the Office the results of the 2002-03 survey on household income and expenditure.

3. Communication to the ILO of the methodology used. Article 6(b). Please communicate to the Office a detailed description of the methodology used in the 2000 population census.

4. Wage structure and distribution. Article 10. Referring to its repeated previous requests, the Committee once again asks the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to compile and publish statistics of wage structure including detailed data on the composition of earnings (basic pay, overtime pay, remuneration for time not worked and bonuses and gratuities), and of average hours of work (actually worked or paid).

5. Industrial disputes. Article 15. Referring to its previous requests, the Committee once again asks the Government to supply detailed information on any measures taken or envisaged to compile statistics on labour disputes throughout the country and for all branches of economic activity.

6. Obligations not accepted. Article 16, paragraph 4. The Committee notes that statistics on the number of manufacturing industry wage earners and their pay taken from the Annual Industrial Survey are regularly transmitted to the Office. It asks the Government to indicate whether it envisages extending the compilation of such statistics to other important branches of economic activity (Article 11). Referring to its previous request, the Committee also asks the Government to indicate whether new measures are envisaged to extend statistical coverage on occupational injuries so as to be representative of the country as a whole (Article 14).

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2007.]

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and, in particular, the information supplied in reply to the previous request concerning Article 9, pagraph 2, of the Convention. It asks the Government to provide further information on the following points:

Article 3.  In the absence of a reply to its previous request, the Committee once again asks the Government to supply more detailed information on CODEFAT, including information on its composition, and its role in designing or revising the concepts, definitions and methodology used with regard to statistics covered by the Convention.

Article 7.  The Committee notes that, in reply to the ILO Yearbook of Labour Statistics questionnaires, Brazil updated the series published, so that in the 1999 Yearbook, economically active population, employment and unemployment data, derived from the National Household Sample Survey (PNAD), refer to 1997. However, only data on total unemployment and unemployment by age group are available at the ILO, whilst employment data classified according to the International Standard Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) and the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) have been made available. The Committee asks the Government to send to the ILO the corresponding unemployment data classified by ISIC and ISCO.

Article 9, paragraph 1.  The Committee notes that the RAIS reports (Annual Report of Social Information) provide annual averages of monthly earnings. It again asks the Government to indicate any measures taken or envisaged to compile and publish current statistics not only of average earnings, but also of hours of work (hours actually worked or hours paid for), which should be compatible with the statistics of earnings. The Committee notes that, according to the available information, there are three other sources of potential earnings statistics with limited coverage: the Pesquisa Mensal de Emprego, which is limited to six metropolitan regions, the Pesquisa Industrial Anual and the Pesquisa Industrial Mensal, which have restricted industrial coverage (mining and manufacturing) and from which estimates of earnings seem to cover only production workers. It notes that some discrepancies appear between the statistics produced from these different sources. The Committee asks the Government to comment on the validity of the data on average earnings collected and compiled by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) through these statistics, and to publish the relevant methodological information on these surveys and to communicate such information to the ILO, in accordance with Article 6.

Article 10.  The Committee again asks the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged, if any, in order to compile and publish statistics on the structure of earnings including detailed data on the composition of earnings (such as basic pay, premium pay for overtime, remuneration for time not worked and bonuses and gratuities) and of hours of work (hours actually worked or paid for).

Article 13.  The Committee notes that the latest household expenditure survey was conducted in October 1995-September 1996. It asks the Government to indicate which specific standards and guidelines are followed (in accordance with Article 2), and to state the manner in which the representative organizations of employers and workers are consulted when the concepts, definitions and methodology used are designed or revised (Article 3). The Committee asks the Government to send the results of the survey to the ILO (Article 5), and to specify the title and reference of the publication, if any, containing the detailed methodological description of the survey (Article 6).

Article 15.  The Committee noted in its previous request the efforts of the Government to improve the strike information system (SIGREV). However, insufficient information is available to determine the extent to which the data compiled by the Interunion Department of Socio-Economic Statistics and Studies (DIEESE) meet the requirements of the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to provide information concerning the statistics of strikes compiled by the DIEESE, in particular: (i) the standards and guidelines that were taken into account, if any, in establishing the statistical system (in accordance with Article 2); (ii) the organizations of employers and of workers that were consulted, if any, in establishing the statistical system (Article 3); (iii) the most recent dates for which statistics are available (Article 5); and (iv) a description of the sources, coverage, concepts, definitions and methodology used in compiling the statistics, and whether this description has been published in Brazil (Article 6).

Article 16, paragraph 4.  Recalling that the Government did not accept the obligations of Articles 11 and 14, the Committee is making the following remarks on them for the purpose of clarifying the extent to which effect is already given to them. Concerning Article 11, the Committee asks the Government to comment on the validity of the data on average compensation of employees collected and compiled by the IBGE through the Pesquisa Industrial Anual, to publish the relevant methodological information on this survey and to communicate such information to the ILO (in accordance with Article 6). With regard to Article 14, the Committee notes with interest the information supplied to the ILO concerning the methodology relating to statistics of occupational injuries, and that the statistics currently compiled cover only about 35 per cent of all persons employed. It asks the Government to indicate the plans, if any, to extend the coverage of the statistics so that they may be representative of the country as a whole. The Committee also asks the Government to provide the following information: (i) the standards and guidelines that were taken into account, if any, in establishing the statistical system (in accordance with Article 2); (ii) the organizations of employers and of workers that were consulted, if any, in establishing the statistical system (Article 3).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

The Committee has noted the Government's second report and in particular the information concerning the application of Article 2 of the Convention. It requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 3. The Committee notes the indications in the report that CODEFAT, the tripartite council that administers the money pertaining to the Worker Support Fund (FAT) has begun to monitor the records concerning the Annual Report of Social Information (RAIS) and Act No. 4923/65. It asks the Government to supply more detailed information on CODEFAT, including information on its composition, and its role in designing or revising the concepts, definitions and methodology used with regard to statistics covered by the Convention.

Article 5. As regards the time-lag between the reference year of the data and their publication in RAIS or their transmission to the ILO, on which the Committee commented in its last request in relation with Articles 9 and 10, it notes the Government's explanations including factors inherent to the source of data (administrative reports). The Committee nevertheless draws the Government's attention to the requirement under Article 5 to communicate to the ILO the published statistics, as soon as practicable, in particular concerning the statistics of the economically active population, etc. (Article 7), and the 1990 census results (Article 8).

Article 9, paragraph 1. The Committee again asks the Government to indicate any measures taken or envisaged to compile and publish current statistics not only of average earnings but also of hours of work (hours actually worked or hours paid for) in accordance with this Article.

Article 9, paragraph 2. With reference to its previous requests, the Committee notes the information on the definition of "contractual wages". As to the statistics of normal hours of work, the Committee notes the Government's indication in its report that the Ministry of Labour plans to create a Working Group to study the possibility of including such statistics in RAIS. Please provide information on any further progress made in this regard.

Article 10. The Committee notes that statistics of wage distribution (data on distribution of employees by income group) are compiled and published. It again asks the Government to indicate any measures taken or envisaged to compile and publish statistics of wage structure including data on the composition of earnings (such as basic pay, premium pay for overtime, remuneration for time not worked and bonuses and gratuities), and of hours of work (actually worked or paid for).

Article 13. Please indicate whether the Household Income and Expenditure Survey planned for 1992-93 has taken place. If so, please communicate the published statistics and the methodological information to the ILO in accordance with Articles 5 and 6. If the survey has not yet taken place, please state when it is planned to conduct it.

Article 15. The Committee notes with interest the recent efforts to improve the strike information system (SIGREV). However, it asks the Government to indicate how the representative organizations of employers and workers were consulted in the process of such revisions (in accordance with Article 3). Please indicate whether these statistics are published by the national authorities and, if so, please supply the reference information (Article 5). Please also communicate to the ILO detailed methodological information concerning the SIGREV including the recent changes, particularly with respect to the source of data, the scope and coverage of the statistics, the methods of data collection and the responsible agencies/organizations (Article 6).

Article 16, paragraph 4. The Committee would again draw the Government's attention to the requirement under this provision to indicate law and practice concerning the Articles of Part II in respect of which obligations have not been accepted (i.e. Articles 11 and 14 in the case of Brazil). As regards statistics of occupational injuries (Article 14), it would be grateful if the Government would comment on the validity of the data on work accidents ("acidentes do trabalho"), collected and compiled by the INPS (National Institute of Social Providence).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

The Committee notes the Government's first report, which provides information on the statistical activities under Act No. 4923/65 of December 1965 and on the data collected in the context of the Annual Report of Social Information (RAIS). It hopes that the next report will contain full information on all the Articles of Part II of the Convention in respect of which the Government accepted obligations (that is, including Articles 12 and 15). The Committee requests the Government to provide information, in particular, on the following points.

Article 2. The Committee requests the Government to indicate, for each of the accepted Articles of Part II of the Convention, whether the latest international standards and guidelines have been followed and the reasons for any departures from them. As regards Article 7, for example, it asks the Government to state whether the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) is used and, if so, to specify which (ISCO-68 or ISCO-88) is followed; and whether the Resolution on statistics of the economically active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment, adopted by the 13th Internationl Conference of Labour Statisticians in 1982 is applied.

Article 3. The Committee requests the Government to indicate, for each of the accepted Articles of Part II, the manner in which the representative organizations of employers and workers are consulted when the concepts, definitions and methodology used are designed or revised.

Article 8. The Committee understands that population censuses have been carried out, and requests the Government (i) to indicate whether data classified according to status in employment are available and, if so, to provide them to the ILO, and (ii) to communicate to the ILO the results and methodology of the 1991 Population Census as soon as they become available.

Articles 7 and 8. According to information available in the Office, statistics covered by these Articles are compiled and published in the National Household Sample Survey ("Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicilios", or PNAD). The Committee requests the Government to communicate a copy of this survey to the Office as soon as practicable (in accordance with Articles 5 and 6).

Article 9. The Committee requests the Government to indicate any measures taken or envisaged to compile and publish current statistics of average hours of work which would be compatible with the statistics of average earnings derived from RAIS. If no such measures have been envisaged, please indicate the reasons.

Article 9, paragraph 2. The Committee notes that, although the data gathered on the basis of RAIS respond to the requirements of this provision, no information has been received in the ILO on the concept of "contractual wages". It therefore requests the Government to provide further information on the concepts used. Please also state whether statistics of normal hours of work are published.

Article 10. The Committee notes that the statistics derived from RAIS do not include those of wage structure (i.e. statistics of the composition and components of earnings) or of wage distribution (i.e. of the distribution of employees according to levels of earnings) and that the statistics of wage distribution derived from PNAD are not compatible with the data obtained from RAIS. It therefore requests the Government to indicate any measures taken or envisaged to compile and publish statistics of wage structure and of wage distribution which would be compatible with the existing statistics. If no measures have been envisaged, please indicate the reasons.

Articles 9 and 10. Noting that the RAIS report was last received in the Office four years after its publication, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would take measures to communicate it as soon as practicable in accordance with Article 5.

Article 15. When providing information on this Article in accordance with the report form as requested above, please include the title of the principal publication in which the statistics of strikes and lockouts appear, and a copy of the published statistics (Article 5), and information on the publication by the competent national body of a detailed methodological description of the statistics (Article 6). Please provide, in particular, methodological information on the change of series in 1989, for instance, the reasons for the change, and the resultant difference in "time not worked". What does it represent (duration of the dispute or total time not worked by all workers involved)? How is it calculated?

Article 16, paragraph 4. The Committee would draw the Government's attention to this provision which requests for the indication of law and practice concerning the Articles of Part II in respect of which obligations have not been accepted (i.e. Articles 11 and 14, in the case of Brazil). It would be grateful if the Government would provide, to the extent possible, any statistics compiled, for example, those on occupational injuries published in the "Work Accidents" ("Acidentes do trabalho") as well as information on their sources, methodology and publication.