Solicitud directa (CEACR) - Adopción: 2003, Publicación: 92ª reunión CIT (2004)

The Committee notes the report provided by the Government. It notes with interest the adoption in 1999 of the Employment Act (No. 14) which establishes for the first time since 1968 minimum wage fixing machinery for workers who are not covered by collective agreements. A Wages Advisory Committee established under section 51 of the new Act is to investigate and make recommendations to the Government as to the minimum rates of wages which should be payable. Composed of an equal number of representatives of the most representative organizations of employers and workers, the above Committee should meet at least once every three years with a view to updating the minimum wage rate. The Committee notes in this respect the Government’s statement that an order made under section 52 of the above Act, after considering the recommendations of the Wages Advisory Committee, has established the minimum wage rate applicable since 1 September 2002. It requests the Government to provide a copy of the above order.

Article 5 and Part V of the report form. While noting the Government’s statement in its report that there are arrangements in every industry for the regulation of wages through collective arrangements, and the list of 24 workplace and sectoral collective agreements provided by the Government in its report, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the number of workers covered by the minimum wage rate in force as established by order since September 2002. It would also be grateful to receive information on the coverage of collective agreements setting minimum wage rates and the amounts of the latter.

Furthermore, the Committee notes the statistical information on the activities of the labour inspection services and requests the Government to provide with its next report full information on compliance in practice with the laws and regulations respecting minimum wages, including the number of cases in which the labour inspection services have reported failure to comply with statutory or agreed minimum wages and, where appropriate, the imposition of the penalties provided for in sections 53(2) and 54(1) of the Employment Act.