Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

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

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 that statistics on the economically active population, employment and unemployment continue to be provided to the ILO for dissemination under ILOSTAT. The latest figures from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) relate to 2020. With respect 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 Government indicates that unadjusted and seasonally adjusted monthly estimates on two groups of economic activity are published in the statistics tables of the Official Statistics Portal (the OSP) on employed and unemployed persons (aged 15–74). Three indicators characterising economic activity by month and by sex are published in the OSP statistics tables: the number of employed, the number of unemployed and the unemployment rate. Noting that the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia conducts population censuses every 10 years, and the latest census was conducted in 2021, the Committee encourages the Government to consider accepting the obligations of Article 8. The Government is also requested 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 there have been no changes affecting the application of these provisions. The Government provides a detailed description of consultations held with representative employers’ and workers’ organizations as well as information regarding the current statistical data and the underlying methodologies. Statistical data on wages/salaries and other labour costs, hours worked and paid, as well as the corresponding number of employees (workplaces occupied), is obtained from the same quarterly survey of undertakings and aggregated to include all sizes, fields and sectors of undertakings. Additional information regarding the hours worked per week is also obtained in the labour force survey of the CSB. Statistical data on wages/salaries disaggregated by professions, genders, sectors and other socio-economic indicators is obtained by carrying out a structural survey of wages/salaries which, according to the EU regulations, takes place every in four years. The most recent survey was conducted in 2018.  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 there have been no changes affecting the application of this Article. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide statistics of average labour costs and encourages 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. There have been no changes affecting the application of this Article. The latest data available on occupational injuries derived from labour inspectorate records are from 2019. 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 its annual 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.