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

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Ireland (Ratification: 1995)

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 welcomes the information provided by the Government in reply to its previous comments and notes that it regularly supplies statistics to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination through its website (ILOSTAT). The Committee also notes that the main source of information on the labour force, employment, unemployment and visible underemployment continues to be the Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). Reliable quarterly and annual statistics on the labour force, employment and unemployment are derived from this source and disseminated through the Central Statistics Office (CSO) website. The Government indicates that every effort continues to be made to adhere to the maximum possible extent to ILO classifications and standards in the preparation of labour statistics. In addition, Ireland now publishes new underemployment (for part-time workers) and Potential Additional Labour Force statistics according to the standards agreed by Eurostat. The Committee further notes that the main sources of statistics on the structure and distribution of the economically active population continue to be the QNHS and the Population Census, which is conducted every five years. The most recent census was conducted in April 2016. The Committee requests that the Government 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).

Article 9. Current statistics of average earnings and hours of work. Statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of works. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on current statistics of average earnings and hours of work (Article 9(1)), indicating that, until 2008, estimates of earnings were compiled from a number of separate sectoral inquiries of enterprises and local units that collected varying data utilizing different methodologies. As of 2008, a single survey, the Earnings Hours and Employment Costs Survey (EHECS), has been used to cover all sectors of the economy, including the service and public sectors, with the exception of agriculture, forestry and fishing. With respect to statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work (Article 9(2)), the Committee notes that no new information has been provided in the Government’s report. The Committee therefore requests that the Government provide information on any future developments envisaged with a view to the collection, compilation and publication of statistics giving effect to Article 9(2) of the Convention.

Articles 10 and 16. Statistics of wage structure and distribution. Recalling that the obligations under Article 10 have not been accepted by the Government (Article 16(4)), the Committee notes from the report that Ireland began implementing a Structure of Earnings Survey in 2013. The Committee welcomes this information and invites the Government to continue to provide information on the application of this provision. It also invites the Government to consider the possibility of accepting the obligations under Article 10, in accordance with Article 16(3).

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries and diseases. The Committee notes that statistics on occupational injuries are regularly submitted to the ILO Department of Statistics through its annual questionnaire on labour statistics. The statistics submitted are derived from Health and Safety Authority records. With respect to statistics of occupational diseases, the Government indicates that plans are ongoing at the level of the European Union to develop occupational disease statistics, but that given the difficulties associated with such data collection, no concrete decision regarding implementation has been taken. The Committee requests that the Government continue to provide information on any plans it may have to produce statistics on occupational diseases.