ILO-en-strap
NORMLEX
Information System on International Labour Standards
NORMLEX Home > Country profiles >  > Comments > All Comments

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Australia (Ratification: 1987)

Display in: French - Spanish

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Article 7 of the Convention. Underemployment statistics. The Committee notes that the main sources for statistics on the labour force (formerly known as the economically active population), both for employment and unemployment, continue to be the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which is conducted on a monthly basis, and the Census of Population and Housing, which is conducted every five years, the latest one having taken place in 2011. The statistics derived from both sources are representative of the country as a whole. The LFS also provides statistics on visible underemployment. The Committee notes that the frequency of collection and dissemination of underemployment statistics has been increased as of July 2014 from quarterly to monthly. Moreover, the scope of the concept of underemployment will be expanded, but this change will not hinder the production of statistics in accordance with the ILO definition of underemployment. The Committee notes with interest the intention of the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to implement the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour utilization, adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013). The Committee invites the Government to provide information on any developments made pertaining to the collection and dissemination of underemployment statistics. Please also keep the ILO informed of any developments towards the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization.
Article 8. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes that the ABS is modifying its programme of supplementary surveys. Modifications will mainly affect the frequency of collection of statistics on specific labour-related topics. The Committee invites the Government to keep the ILO informed of any changes made to the programme of supplementary surveys.
Article 9. Statistics of average earnings and of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. In reply to the 2010 direct request, the Government indicates that, in accordance with the Resolution concerning the measurement of working time adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (November–December 2008), the ABS collects and disseminates statistics on hours actually worked and hours usually worked from its monthly Labour Force Survey, and on hours paid for from the Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership (EEBTUM) survey, an annual supplement to the Labour Force Survey, and the Employee Earnings and Hours (EEH) survey, a biennial establishment survey. The Committee invites the Government to provide available information on statistics on normal hours of work. Please also keep the ILO informed of any changes made to the programme of supplementary surveys, such as modifications to the Employee Earnings, Benefits and Trade Union Membership survey.
Article 11. Statistics of labour cost. The Committee notes that information on statistics on major labour costs is available in the Major Labour Costs (MLC) survey. The latest data available is from the MLC survey conducted in 2010–11. Similar surveys were conducted annually in respect of the financial years from 1985–86 to 1991–92, and then in 1993–94, 1996–97 and 2002–03. The Committee refers to the Resolution concerning statistics of labour cost adopted by the 11th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 1966) indicating that it is desirable that data should be collected at intervals not exceeding five years. The Committee invites the Government to provide the ILO with available information on labour cost statistics for years after 2003. Please also keep the ILO informed of any changes made to the frequency of collection of statistics of labour cost.
Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. In reply to the 2010 direct request, the Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government of its plan to review and improve the industrial disputes statistics with a view to reflecting the recent developments in workplace relations and to better meet the data users’ needs. The Committee invites the Government to keep the ILO informed of any developments in the review of statistics of industrial disputes, and to provide information on the implementation of any changes in this regard.

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

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report received on 23 September 2009, which contains information in reply to its previous comments, as well as of the information made available through Government’s websites.

Article 9 of the Convention. In respect to the implementation of this Article, the Committee draws to 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 at www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Statistics/standards/resolutions/lang--en/doc
Name--WCMS_112455/index.htm, whose larger number of concepts and measures would seem to be better aligned with national practice).

Article 13. Statistics of household expenditure. The Committee notes with interest that, according to the detailed explanation of the structure and the changes in the household income and expenditure survey programme, provided by the Government in reply to its previous direct request, this provision continues to be fully applied.

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries. The Committee notes with interest the progress made regarding the coverage of the statistics on occupational injuries and diseases and would be grateful if the Government would keep the ILO informed of any further developments in statistics on occupational injuries and of progress to extend the coverage of categories of occupational diseases.

Article 15. Statistics of industrial disputes. Referring to its 2000 comments in this regard, the Committee takes note of the information that the review of the statistics on labour disputes mentioned in the Government’s 1999 report, was undertaken, that the resultant changes are incorporated in Industrial Disputes, Australia (cat. No. 6321.0.55.001) and the statistics were collected monthly and published on a quarterly basis. The Government also refers to changes including updates to the classification of dispute causes and reasons work resumed. It supplies in addition, information from the South Australian Government that data is collected and incorporated into Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports from all States and Territories, including South Australia, on industrial relations statistics. The Committee notes with interest the progress made regarding the review of the statistics of industrial disputes, and reporting thereof, as well as the efforts made to improve the collection and coverage of these statistics. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would keep the ILO informed in due course of any steps taken to extend the national definitions to all characteristics recommended by the international statistical standards.

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

Article 8. Population censuses. The Committee notes that the last population census was conducted in 2001 and that, according to the information available to the ILO, the next census will take place in August 2006.

Noting that no methodological information regarding the 2001 census has yet been received by the Office, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would forward this information to the ILO (in accordance with Article 6).

Article 13. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate why the household expenditure survey will henceforth be conducted every six years instead of every five years. It reminds the Government that, according to the Resolution concerning household income and expenditure statistics, adopted by the 17th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) in 2003, major household expenditure surveys should be undertaken preferably at intervals not exceeding five years.

Article 14. The Committee notes that, in reply to its previous comments (2000), the Government has provided information on the changes that have been introduced as from 2000-01 by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) for claims for workers’ compensation, on which the statistics are based. The specifications for the statistics are set out in National data set for compensation-based statistics, 2nd edition, NOHSC, May 1999 (NDS2), which contains a table comparing the previous and present specifications, a copy of  which was provided with the report. The Committee also takes due note of the explanations relating to the exclusions made under Article 17.

Noting the progress achieved regarding the coverage of the statistics on occupational injuries and diseases, and the efforts that are being made to assess the representativity of these statistics, the Committee requests the Government to keep the ILO informed of the progress made with the introduction of the new NOHSC measures in July 2005, and any other measures taken to extend the coverage to include further categories of workers and of occupational diseases.

Article 15. The report does not reply to the previous comments (2000) regarding any changes which may have been introduced following the review of the statistics on labour disputes mentioned in the Government's 1999 report. The Committee therefore once again asks the Government to supply information on the outcome of this review when it is available.

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

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report, and asks the Government to supply information on the following points.

Articles 5 and 6 of the Convention.  The Committee draws the attention of the Government to the requirements of these Articles to communicate to the ILO, as soon as practicable, the published statistics compiled in pursuance of the Convention, including the relevant publications and methodological information. It asks the Government to transmit to the ILO the following published data: (i) the 1996 population census (in relation to Article 8); (ii) the Australian consumer price index: Concepts, sources and methods (6461.0) (Article 12); (iii) the surveys including statistics of household expenditure such as the 1993-94 household expenditure survey, summary of results, Australia (6530.0), the 1993-94 household expenditure survey, Australia, Information paper (6527.0), the income distribution, Australia (6523.0), the survey of income and housing costs, Australia: user guide 1997 (6553.0), and the 1998-99 household expenditure survey (Article 13).

Article 14.  Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the statistics on occupational injuries and diseases compiled by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC), as well as methodological information concerning these statistics, are being published regularly, and are communicated to the ILO (in accordance with Articles 5 and 6). It also takes note of the information provided regarding the steps being taken to extend the scope of these statistics. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the progress made following the introduction of the new NOHSC measures in July 2000, in particular with regard to the coverage of categories of workers, sectors of the economy, branches of economic activity or geographic areas not previously included (Article 17, paragraph 2).

Article 15.  The Committee notes that a review of the industrial disputes collection is under way. It asks the Government to supply information on the outcome of this review when it is available.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

Article 14 of the Convention. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report. It requests the Government to communicate to the Office the published statistics of occupational injuries and diseases compiled by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, as well as methodological information concerning these statistics (in accordance with Articles 5 and 6). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information on the measures taken or envisaged to extend the scope of these statistics (Article 17(2)).

Article 15. From a publication of the Australian Bureau of Statistics available at the Office, the Committee notes with interest that the method of calculating the number of industrial disputes had been changed as from September 1991 in order to align the method with the guidelines established under the auspices of the ILO.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government with its second report in reply to the Committee's previous comments, concerning in particular, ILO guidelines and standards followed (Article 2 of the Convention read together with Articles 7 to 10, 12 and 13) and the publication of the results and methods of population censuses (Article 8 read together with Articles 5 and 6).

Article 14. The Committee notes the information on the measures taken or planned to improve and expand the scope of statistics of occupational injuries and diseases. It requests the Government to provide further information on the ILO standards and guidelines taken into consideration in the development of the national system in this connection (Article 2) and on the publications containing data and methodology, the release of which is now foreseen for 1993 (Articles 5 and 6). The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would continue supplying information on the measures taken or envisaged to extend the scope of these statistics (Article 17, paragraph 2).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government with its first report. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the following points.

Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee notes that, according to the Government's report, ILO guide-lines and standards have been followed in the collection, compilation and publication of the statistics covered by Articles 7 to 10 and 12 to 14. Please indicate the standards and guide-lines that have been used.

Article 8. The Committee requests the Government to indicate, as set out in Article 5 and by the report form, the reference number of the principal publication in which the results of the 1986 population census (which provides the statistics required by this Article) appear. It also requests the Government to indicate whether the results of the population census and the methods used have been published (Article 6).

Article 14. The Committee notes that statistics of occupational injuries and diseases have begun to be compiled and that they will be available in 1990. Please supply these statistics as soon as they are available. The Committee also requests the Government to supply the information set out in Articles 2, 3, 5 and 6 in relation to the statistics covered by this Article.

Article 17. The Committee notes the Government's statement concerning the limitation of the scope of the statistics covered by Articles 7, 8 and 14. Please indicate in future reports, as provided for in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article, the measures that have been taken or are envisaged to extend the scope of these statistics to the categories of workers, branches of economic activity and types of statistics covered by these Articles, which have been excluded.

© Copyright and permissions 1996-2024 International Labour Organization (ILO) | Privacy policy | Disclaimer