Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Working Conditions (Hotels and Restaurants) Convention, 1991 (No. 172) - Uruguay (Ratification: 1995)

Article 3 of the Convention. National policy for the hotel and catering sector. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to indicate any steps taken or envisaged, in consultation with the social partners, with a view to adopting and implementing a national policy for the improvement of the working conditions of hotel and restaurant workers. The Committee notes that, according to data from the Investigations and Statistics Unit of the Ministry of Tourism, direct employment in this sector represents 6.3 per cent of the total jobs generated by the economy. The Government indicates that the majority of jobs come from restaurant, bar and cafeteria activities (39.4 per cent), passenger transport (23.8 per cent) and accommodation (20.3 per cent). The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Tourism’s priorities include the professionalization of the sector based on lifelong learning and quality education, including training for workers in the sector. In this context, in 2016, the Tourism Sectoral Group was set up, composed of the National Institute for Employment and Vocational Training, the Tourism Chamber of Uruguay, the Single Union of Catering and Restaurant Workers of Uruguay and the Ministry of Tourism. This body determines the training requirements for the sector and collaborates in the implementation of national training programmes and plans. The Committee also notes the Government’s information concerning the content of various courses held and the participants at those. In addition, the Committee notes the signing of the sectoral collective agreement for group No. 12: “hotels, restaurants and bars” of the Salary Council, which establishes pay rises for workers in the sector and which was envisaged to remain in force until 30 June 2018. The Committee notes, however, that the Government’s report does not include information on measures taken or envisaged with a view to developing and implementing a national policy for the improvement of the working conditions of workers in that sector. The Committee therefore reiterates its request to the Government to provide detailed and updated information on measures taken or envisaged, in consultation with the employers’ and workers’ organizations concerned, with a view to adopting and implementing a national policy for the improvement of the working conditions of hotel and restaurant workers, as required under this Article of the Convention. It also requests the Government to provide updated information on the application of the Convention in practice, in particular statistical information regarding visits conducted by the labour inspectorate and their outcome, disaggregated by age and sex; recent studies on the working conditions for workers in the sector, as well as any other information relating to the policy for the improvement of working conditions of workers in the sector.