Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Guatemala (Ratification: 1993)

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

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Statistics of employment, unemployment and underemployment. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the first National Survey of Employment and Income (ENEI 1-2013) and the National Census IX of the Population and VI of Housing conducted simultaneously in 2002. The Committee requests that the Government continue to provide the ILO with the labour statistics required by the Convention. The Committee also invites the Government to provide information on 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(2). Compilation of statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. Communication of statistics. The Government has not included in its report information on time rates of wages and normal hours of work. The Committee requests that the Government take the necessary measures to compile statistics on time rates of wages and normal hours of work. The Committee hopes the Government will communicate to the Office updated information on the concepts and procedures used for the compilation of these statistics when available.

Article 10. Statistics of wage structure and distribution. The Government indicates that national surveys of employment and income reflect the earnings and wages of employed persons, which can be disaggregated by hours worked. The Committee notes that, even though the Government provides data on average monthly income by hours of work, it does not provide information on statistics relating to wage structure and distribution. The Committee requests the Government to provide relevant statistics relating to the composition of earnings (for example, basic remuneration and additional pay for overtime hours) and hours of work, when they are available.

Article 11. Statistics of labour cost. The Government indicates that employment surveys do not yet allow the cost of labour to be determined. The Committee requests that the Government take the necessary measures to compile and publish statistics on labour costs.

Article 13. Statistics of household expenditure. The Government indicates that the National Statistical Institute is planning to conduct a new National Survey of Family Income and Expenditure (ENIGF). The Government adds that employment surveys do not cover economic aspects, such as basic family expenditure. Nevertheless, according to the Government, this data can be discerned from other surveys, such as the National Survey of Family Income and Expenditure and the National Survey of Living Conditions. The Committee recalls that, in accordance with the resolution concerning household income and expenditure statistics, adopted in 2003 by the 17th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, sample surveys of household income and expenditure should preferably be conducted at intervals not exceeding five years. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether effect has been given to the Resolution concerning household income and expenditure statistics, adopted in December 2003 by the 17th International Conference of Labour Statisticians and to provide information on the action taken to compile and publish statistics of household expenditure.

Article 14. Occupational injuries and diseases. The Committee requests that the Government provide the available statistics on occupational injuries and diseases, as well as information on their scope, the principal definitions and the methodology used for their compilation.

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to compile and publish statistics on industrial disputes.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Also referring to its observation, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the following points.

Article 7 of the Convention. The Committee notes the methodological information and summary statistics on the estimates and projections of economically active population, employment and unemployment for the period 2005–08 provided by the Government in its report received in August 2009. It notes that the methodological information of the latest labour force survey has not been supplied yet (Article 6) to assess whether the concepts and measurement methodology used are in line with ILO statistical standards (Article 2). The Committee asks the Government to supply methodological information concerning the 2006 Labour Force Survey and to keep the ILO informed of any developments concerning the labour force survey.

Article 8. While noting the information based on the latest population census 2002 (projection and estimations data), as well as the relevant methodological information data, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would send to the ILO the final data from the 2002 population census and encourages it to continue to supply data as soon as practicable. The Committee informs the Government that projection data and estimates cannot be taken into consideration by the ILO for the purpose of publication and dissemination.

Article 9. The Committee notes that statistics of average monthly earnings continue to be compiled on the basis of the annual reports which are submitted to the Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social (IGSS) and cover all economic activities, as well as on the basis of another source of information on earnings and hours of work, the “Informe del Empleador”. The Committee asks the Government to keep the ILO informed of any future developments in this field (Articles 9(1) and (2)), and continue to communicate the statistics of average earnings disaggregated by sex, economic activity and other characteristics, as soon as practicable.

The Committee would also draw the attention of the Government to the new international standards concerning the measurement of working time (see Resolution I adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, whose larger number of concepts and measures are defined in depth. This instrument is available at www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Statistics/standards/
resolutions/lang--en/docName--WCMS_112455/index.htm).

Article 10. In reply to the previous direct request, the Government indicates that the annual “Informe del Empleador” continues to be exploited. However, among the tables annexed to the report, no statistics appear on the structure and distribution of wages and hours of work. The Committee asks the Government to communicate to the ILO the relevant statistics as soon as practicable regarding the distribution of wages and hours of work and the distribution of employees, if compiled, by levels of earnings and hours of work.

Article 11. The report indicates that work is undertaken to improve the existing databases so that the guidelines on labour cost statistics are taken into account in the compilation of data. It also underlines that the data relating to 2007 and 2008 are not available. The Committee asks the Government to keep the ILO informed of any future developments in this field and to communicate the new relevant statistics for 2007–08 as described in its report, as soon as feasible, together with the methodological information (Articles 5 and 6).

Article 12. The Committee reminds the Government to supply methodological information on the new national CPIs (consumer price indices) series (base: December 2000=100) or to provide the ILO with the title and reference of the publication which contains the detailed methodological description referred to in this article, if any (Article 6).

Article 13. According to the Government: (i) there are no new information regarding the application of this article; (ii) the National Statistics Institute (INE) is planning to carry out a household income and expenditure survey (HIES) (Encuesta nacional de ingresos y gastos familiares); and (iii) the results will be communicated to the ILO, as soon as they become available. According to the information available at the ILO, the last survey (Encuesta nacional de ingresos y gastos familiares) was conducted in March 1998–February 1999. The results and description of the concepts, definitions and methodology used in the survey have not been communicated to the ILO. Noting that this Article does not seem to be applied and that no statistics on household expenditure have been produced for more than ten years, contrary to the provision of the ILO resolution on household income expenditure survey (HIES) according to which these statistics should be compiled at least once every five years, the Committee asks the Government to communicate to the ILO the relevant information on its 1998–99 survey as stated in Articles 5 and 6.

Referring to the indication that a new HIES is being planned, the Committee encourages the Government: (i) to keep the ILO informed of any developments in this regard; and (ii) to consider the latest international standards on the subject adopted by the 17th International Conference on Labour Statistics when designing the new survey.

Article 14. The Committee notes the statistics relating to industrial accidents extracted from the database of the IGSS. It notes, however, that these data do not correspond to the series previously supplied for publication in the Yearbook of Labour Statistics, or to the series provided in annex to the previous report. It notes the data on the total number of consultations by workers following work-related accidents, the total number of hospital admissions and the total number of days spent in hospital due to occupational accidents for 2006–07. The statistics provided are not broken down by fatal and non-fatal accidents, sex, or branch of economic activity.

Moreover, the Government does not provide information relating to the concepts, definitions and methodology currently used (Article 6), the international standards and guidelines that have been taken into consideration (Article 2), consultation with organizations of employers and workers (Article 3), nor about reference information or dates of release for publication and dissemination of the statistics (Article 5). Referring to its previous request, the Committee notes with concern that Article 14(1) continues to be only partially applied and that little, if any, progress has been made.

The Committee therefore requests the Government to keep the ILO informed of any further steps planned with respect to the statistics on occupational injuries, regarding: expansion of their coverage so that they are representative of the country as a whole; the international standards and guidelines taken into consideration (Article 2); consultation with organizations of employers and workers (Article 3); the publication of statistics on fatal occupational injuries (Article 5); the concepts, definitions and methodology currently used (Article 6). It also requests the Government to transmit the statistics on occupational injuries regularly to the ILO (Article 5).

Regarding statistics on occupational diseases (Article 14(2)), the Committee requests the Government to keep the ILO informed of any plans it may have to compile and publish these statistics.

Article 15. The Government indicates that no information concerning a statistical system of recording by labour courts of industrial disputes is available because there is no institution that can keep track of industrial disputes. Noting with regret the lack of institutionalization for data collection and dissemination required under this Article, the Committee reminds the Government of its obligations in this regard. It asks the Government to indicate the international guidelines followed when establishing the statistical system (Article 2) and to inform the ILO of all actions taken to substantiate the implementation of the necessary legal and administrative procedures, as well as of the steps proposed to arrange for the registration by labour courts of industrial disputes, and the collection and dissemination of statistics on the total number of events, number of workers involved and amount of time not worked.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

The Committee notes the Government’s report received on 21 September 2009 and the documentation attached. It also notes the observations by the representatives of seven confederations and workers’ organizations, the Indigenous and Rural Workers Trade Union Movement of Guatemala for the Defence of Workers’ Rights (MSICG) dated 28 August 2009, stating that the Government did not inform them of its report and that the application of the Convention is partial and outdated.

The Committee notes the indication by the MSICG that the Movement has called on the President of the Republic for the executive authorities, through the National Statistical Institute and with support from the Technical Institute for Training and Productivity (INTECAP) and the Agricultural Sciences and Technology Institute (ICTA), to produce statistics related to workers and employers on a biennial (semester) basis, as from October 2009; taking into consideration the latest ILO standards and workers’ recommendations. According to the MSICG, this process has not yet been implemented. The Committee requests the Government to transmit any comment it deems relevant with regard to the above.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

The Committee notes the updated information on the application of the Convention contained in the Government’s report for the period ending 1 September 2004. It also notes the partial replies to its previous comments. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide further information on the following points.

Article 7 of the Convention. Although there is no specific information in the report on the economically active population, employment and unemployment, some summary data on employment and unemployment, derived from a labour force survey (LFS), are available for 2000 and 2002 and will be published in the 2004 edition of the Yearbook of Labour Statistics and disseminated on the ILO’s statistical web site.

The latest data on employment derived from official estimates and on registered unemployment, published in the 1999 Yearbook, relate to 1995. The Committee notes that the series on paid employment by economic activity, based on insurance records, was updated in 2003 using tables from the Boletin Estadistica, as disseminated on the web site of the Banco de Guatemala.

The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the obligations deriving from Articles 5 and 6 and asks it to update these series by replying to the questionnaires contained in the ILO Yearbook and to provide the relevant methodological information as well as the corresponding statistical publications.

The Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that all labour market statistics available at the national level are communicated to the ILO.

Article 8. Noting that the report contains no information on the population census, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would send to the ILO, as soon as practicable the data from the 2002 population census and the corresponding methodological data.

Article 9, paragraph 1. The Committee notes that statistics of average monthly earnings continue to be compiled on the basis of the annual reports submitted to the IGSS and that they cover all economic activities. It also notes with interest that the Ministry of Labour intends to exploit another source of information on earnings and hours of work, namely the Informe del Empleador, an annual publication prepared by employers. The Government is asked to keep the ILO informed of any developments in this field, and to communicate to the ILO the statistics of average earnings and hours paid for which can be derived from this source, disaggregated by sex, economic activity and other characteristics.

Article 9, paragraph 2. The Committee notes with interest that the Ministry of Labour intends to make use of the publication Informe del Empleador to compile statistics of average wage/salary rates and normal hours of work, in accordance with the requirements of this Article. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on any further developments in this field and communicate the relevant statistics as soon as feasible.

Article 10. The Committee notes with interest that the Ministry of Labour intends to make use of the publication Informe del Empleador to compile statistics on the wage structure and hours of work, and on the distribution of employees by level of earnings and hours of work. It asks the Government to keep the ILO informed of any developments in this field and to communicate the relevant statistics to the ILO as soon as feasible.

Article 12. Noting that the report does not provide any specific information on consumer price indices, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the obligations set out in Articles 5 and 6 and asks it to: (i) update these series by replying to the questionnaires in the ILO Yearbook; and (ii) provide methodological information on the new series (December 2000=100) or to provide the ILO with the title and reference of the publication, if any, which contains the detailed methodological description referred to in Article 6 (if any).

In addition, the Government is asked to supply regularly all items and food groups indices to the ILO.

Article 13. In response to the previous comments (2000), the Government refers to the publication entitled Encuesta Nacional de ingresos y gastos familiares ("National Survey of Household Income and Expenditure"), with an indication that the document is attached to the report. However, this document has not yet been received by the ILO. The Committee therefore once again asks the Government to: (i) indicate the particular standards and guidelines taken into consideration in the development of statistics of household expenditure (in accordance with Article 2); (ii) communicate the results of the latest survey to the ILO (Article 5); and (iii) communicate a detailed description of the sources, concepts, definitions and methodology used in collecting and compiling household income and expenditure statistics (Article 6) and to send the abovementioned missing document.

Article 14. The Committee notes with regret that no progress has been made since the last report in 1999 with respect to the application of Article 14(a), which seems to be only partially applied. It also notes that:

(a)  it is intended to try to improve the coverage of statistics on occupational injuries with the assistance  of the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance and access to its data;

(b)  it is intended to draw the attention of the Actuarial and Statistical Directorate of the IGSS to international standards and guidance so that they can be taken into account (Article 2);

(c)  up-to-date statistics on occupational injuries were provided with the report and it is intended to find out why statistics on fatal occupational injuries are not published (Article 5);and

(d)  no information is available with respect to statistics on occupational diseases.

The Government is asked to keep the ILO informed of the outcome of the measures that are planned in relation to statistics on occupational injuries, the extension of their coverage to the country as a whole and the account taken of international standards and guidelines (Article 2) and the publication of statistics on fatal occupational injuries (Article 5). The Government is also asked to communicate the statistics on occupational injuries regularly to the ILO (Article 5) and to keep the ILO informed of any plans it may have to compile and publish statistics on occupational diseases (Article 14(b)).

Article 15. Noting that this Article of the Convention is not fully applied, the Committee nevertheless welcomes the information provided concerning the number of strikes in 2003. It asks the Government to ensure that such statistics are communicated regularly to the ILO (Article 5).

The Committee asks the Government to indicate the international guidelines followed when establishing the statistical system (Article 2) and to keep the ILO informed of the provisions respecting the registration of strikes and lockouts by labour tribunals, as noted in the previous report, as well as any measures envisaged with a view to the collection of statistics on the number of workers involved and the amount of time not worked because of strikes and lockouts.

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

The Committee notes the Government’s report. It asks the Government to provide further information on the following points.

Article 7 of the Convention.  The Committee notes that the latest data on employment (general level of employment derived from official estimates and paid employment by economic activities from insurance records) and registered unemployment available at the ILO refer to 1996 and 1995 respectively. It again draws the attention of the Government to the obligations under Article 5 and requests that consistent and updated data on employment and unemployment be sent to the ILO, including those classified by industries and/or occupations, if available. The Committee also notes that, according to the Government’s report, a module on employment was included in the 1998-99 Encuesta Nacional de Ingresos y Gastos Familiares. It asks the Government to send to the ILO these data together with the relative methodological information.

Article 9, paragraph 1.  The Committee notes that statistics of average earnings are compiled from two sources: (i) the annual reports which are submitted to the IGSS (Instituto Guatemalteco de Seguridad Social) and cover all economic activities. However, no information is available on the extent to which the statistics are representative of the proportion of employees covered by the social security schemes, or on the concepts, definitions and methodology used; and (ii) a quarterly industrial survey in manufacturing, about which no information is available. It notes that the data on earnings from the IGSS do not appear to be consistent with the data from the industrial survey. The Committee also notes that data on hours of work (actually worked or paid for) do not seem to be available any longer. The Committee asks the Government to indicate whether steps are envisaged: (i) to compile statistics of average earnings and hours of work (actually worked or paid for) by sex and, where relevant, according to other important characteristics, in accordance with such guidelines as contained in Paragraph 3(1) and (2) of Recommendation No. 170; (ii) to extend the scope of the quarterly industrial survey (Encuesta Industrial Trimestral) which, at present, appears to be limited to selected industry groups and is not representative of the economy as a whole; (iii) to publish detailed descriptions of the concepts, definitions and methodology used in the quarterly industrial survey and the IGSS reports, and to communicate them to the ILO (in accordance with Article 6).

Article 9, paragraph 2.  The Committee asks the Government to indicate whether steps are envisaged to compile statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work according to the guidelines contained in Paragraph 4(1) and (2) of Recommendation No. 170; and, if not, to indicate the reasons why such statistics do not appear to be relevant.

Article 10.  The Committee asks the Government to indicate whether steps are envisaged to compile statistics on the composition of earnings and hours of work, and on the distribution of employees according to level of earnings and hours of work in accordance with international guidelines such as Paragraph 5 of Recommendation No. 170.

Article 11.  The Committee notes that the scope of the statistics of "labour cost" is limited to the concept of "compensation of employees" used in industrial surveys and national accounts; it is also limited to selected manufacturing industry groups. The Committee asks the Government to indicate what steps, if any, are envisaged to compile and publish statistics on the level and composition of labour cost in accordance with the resolution on statistics of labour cost adopted by the Eleventh International Conference of Labour Statisticians (1966) and Paragraph 6 of Recommendation No. 170. These statistics should cover important branches of economic activity and, if possible, be consistent with data on employment and hours of work of the same scope. The Committee also asks the Government to publish a detailed description of the concepts, definitions and methodology used in the annual industrial survey (Encuesta Industrial Fabril) and to communicate it to the ILO (in accordance with Article 6).

Article 12.  The Committee asks the Government to continue communicating to the ILO the published statistics, including all items and food group indices (in accordance with Article 5).

Article 13.  The Committee asks the Government to: (i) indicate the particular standards and guidelines that have been taken into consideration in the development of statistics of household expenditure (in accordance with Article 2); (ii) communicate the results of the latest survey to the ILO (Article 5); (iii) communicate a detailed description of the sources, concepts, definition and methodology used in collecting and compiling household income and expenditure statistics (Article 6).

Article 14.  The Committee notes that, according to the information supplied to the ILO for publication in Sources and methods: Labour statistics, Volume 8 - Occupational injuries, the current international statistical standards and guidelines were not taken into account owing to a lack of knowledge. It draws the Government’s attention to these standards, and requests that they be taken into account when the statistical system is next revised, namely the resolution concerning statistics of occupational injuries (resulting from occupational accidents) adopted by the Sixteenth International Conference of Labour Statisticians in October 1998 (in accordance with Article 2). The Committee notes the indications concerning the publication containing the statistics that appear in the methodological description published in ILO Sources and methods: Labour statistics, Volume 8 (Article 5). It also notes with interest that statistics on the number of persons injured with lost work time up to 1998 have been supplied to the ILO, but that statistics relating to fatal injuries have not been supplied since 1992 (Article 5). The Committee asks the Government to communicate these data to the ILO. The Committee notes that the statistics currently compiled cover only about 27 per cent of all persons employed; and that, while they cover a majority of employees, the self-employed are not included. It requests information as to any plans the Government may have to extend the coverage of the statistics, so as to be more representative of the country as a whole.

Article 15.  The Committee notes the information provided to the ILO concerning the methodology used to compile statistics on the number of strikes and lockouts, and notes that these statistics are regularly communicated to the ILO. It again asks the Government to indicate the international guidelines followed when the statistical system was established (in accordance with Article 2). The Committee also asks the Government to keep it informed regarding the arrangements for the registration by labour tribunals of strikes and lockouts, mentioned in its previous report, as well as any steps it proposes to take to collect statistics on the number of workers involved and the amount of time not worked because of strikes and lockouts.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

The Committee notes the Government's report, in particular the information concerning Article 3 of the Convention. It requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 7. The Committee notes the information supplied in reply to its previous request concerning the international guidelines followed in accordance with Article 2. The Committee again draws the attention of the Government to the obligations under Article 5 and requests that consistent and updated data on employment and unemployment be sent to the ILO, including those classified by industries and/or occupations, if available.

Articles 9, 10 and 11. The Committee notes the Government's indication that the requested statistics are not compiled, for lack of human, technological and financial resources. The Committee encourages the Government to take all possible measures, in particular: (i) to harmonize the compilation of statistics of average earnings and hours actually worked covered by Article 9(1), so as to compile data by sex, and where relevant, according to other important characteristics, according to such guidelines as contained in Paragraphs 3(1) and (2) of Recommendation No. 170 (which the Government should take into account in accordance with Article 2); (ii) to publish detailed descriptions of the concepts, definitions and methodology used in the manufacturing survey and the IGSS records, and communicate them also to the ILO (in accordance with Article 6); (iii) to envisage to compile statistics on the composition of earnings and hours of work, and on the distribution of employees according to levels of earnings and hours of work (Article 10), in accordance with international guidelines such as Paragraph 5 of Recommendation No. 170; (iv) to compile and publish statistics on the level and composition of labour cost, in accordance with international guidelines such as the resolution on statistics of labour cost adopted by the 11th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (1966) and Paragraph 6 of Recommendation No. 170.

Article 12. The Committee requests the Government to communicate to the ILO the published statistics, including all items and food group indices (Article 5).

Article 13. The Committee notes that a survey is being conducted concerning household expenditure. It requests the Government to provide information as required by Articles 2, 5 and 6 of the Convention on both the 1979/81 and the 1997/98 surveys.

Article 14. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information regarding statistics of occupational injuries and occupational diseases required under the various sections of Article 2 (international guidelines followed), and Article 5 (publication of data and their communication to the ILO).

Article 15. Noting the indications in the Government's report concerning statistics of industrial disputes, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the international guidelines followed (as required under Article 2) and to provide to the ILO available statistics of strikes and lockouts and related information (as required under Article 5).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

The Committee notes the Government's first report, and requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 3 of the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to indicate, for each of Articles 7 to 15, 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 7. The Committee notes that information is available and published on insurance-based employment statistics and on registered unemployment, and also a labour force survey is currently conducted. The Committee asks the Government to indicate whether the international guidelines are followed in accordance with Article 2, for instance, the resolutions on (i) "Economically active population", (ii) "International Standard Classification of Occupations, ISCO-88" and (iii) "International Classification by Status in Employment, ICSE-93", adopted respectively by the 13th, 14th and 15th International Conferences of Labour Statisticians. Regarding the labour force survey, the Committee draws the attention of the Government to the obligations of Article 5 and requests that consistent and updated data on employment and unemployment be sent to the ILO.

Article 9(1). The Committee asks the Government: (i) to indicate whether steps are envisaged to harmonize the compilation of statistics of average earnings and hours actually worked, so as to compile data by sex, and where relevant, according to other important characteristics, according to such guidelines as contained in Paragraphs 3(1) and (2) of Recommendation 170 (in accordance Article 2); (ii) to communicate the published statistics to the ILO as soon as practicable (in accordance with Article 5); and (iii) to publish detailed descriptions of the concepts, definitions and methodology used in the manufacturing survey and the IGSS records, and communicate them also to the ILO (in accordance with Article 6).

Article 9(2). The Committee notes that statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work do not seem to be compiled. It asks the Government to indicate which steps, if any, are envisaged to compile statistics of average wage rates and normal hours of work, according to such guidelines as contained in Paragraphs 4(1) and (2) of Recommendation No. 170; and if this is not the case, to indicate the reasons why such statistics are not compiled.

Article 10. The Committee asks the Government to state which steps, if any, are envisaged to compile statistics on the composition of earnings and hours of work, and on the distribution of employees according to levels of earnings and hours of work, in accordance with international guidelines such as Paragraph 5 of Recommendation No. 170.

Article 11. The Committee notes that statistics of average compensation of employees, per employee and per year, are derived from the annual Encuesta Industrial Fabril. Although this concept is considered as a proxy to that of labour cost, it does not cover all cost items included in the latter. In addition, the existing data are limited to the manufacturing industry. They do not seem to be published in national publications and methodological information is not available. The Committee asks the Government to indicate: (i) which steps, if any, are envisaged (a) to publish the statistics of average compensation of employees in national publications (in accordance with Article 5) and (b) to publish and communicate to the ILO a detailed description of the concepts, definitions, coverage and methodology used to compile the existing statistics of compensation of employees (in accordance with Article 6); and (ii) which steps, if any, are envisaged to compile and publish statistics on the level and composition of labour cost, in accordance with the guidelines such as the resolution on statistics of labour cost adopted by the 11th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (1966) and Paragraph 6 of Recommendation No. 170. The Committee recalls that these statistics should cover important branches of economic activity and if possible, be consistent with data of employment and hours of work of the same scope.

Article 12. Noting the change in the geographic coverage of the CPI indicated in the country's reply to the ILO's 1996 Yearbook questionnaires, the Committee requests the Government to provide methodological information for the CPI for Guatemala City (in accordance with Article 6). It also asks the Government to communicate to the ILO the published statistics, including all items and food group indices (Article 5). The Committee encourages the Government to adapt the weights and items of the CPI to the consumer habits of the present day.

Article 13. The Committee notes that the information available is insufficient to permit an assessment as to whether statistics of household expenditure are compiled in compliance with this Article. It requests the Government to provide information on such statistics as required by Articles 2, 5 and 6 of the Convention.

Article 14. The Committee notes from the information available that statistics of occupational injuries and occupational diseases are compiled in compliance with this Article. However, it requests the Government to provide more detailed information required under the various sections of Articles 2 (international guidelines followed), 5 (publication of data and their communication to the ILO) and 6 (methodological information) .

Article 15. The Committee notes that the information available is insufficient to permit an assessment as to whether statistics of industrial disputes are compiled in compliance with this Article. It requests the Government to indicate the international guidelines followed (as required under Article 2) and to provide to the ILO available statistics of strikes and lockouts and related information (as required under Article 5).