Convention concerning Statistics of Wages and Hours of Work, 1938 (No. 63) - Cuba (RATIFICATION: 1954)

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Part I of the Convention. General Provisions. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government with respect to the normative framework related to labour issues, notably in relation to the regulation of working time. In particular, the Committee notes the adoption of the Decree establishing the principles of organization and operation of the Government Information System (Decree-Law No. 6 of 16 April 2020). In addition, the Government provides information with respect to the adoption of Resolution 29 on 25 November 2020, which establishes the current salary scale in Cuba.

Parts II, III and IV of the Convention. Statistics disaggregated by sex and age. Wage indices. The Committee notes that the data compiled in relation to average monthly earnings covers all employed persons (workers and employees) in all branches of economic activity (including agriculture, mining and manufacturing, building and construction), in public and mixed enterprises in the formal sector. Annual statistics in this respect are compiled by the National Statistics and Information Office (ONEI) and are drawn from the National Employment Survey (Encuesta Nacional de Ocupación). According to the information available to the ILO Department of Statistics (ILOSTAT), the latest available data, which is not disaggregated, is derived from the National Employment Survey and refers to 2010. The Government has not provided new information in this respect, apart from noting that the National Employment Survey from which the disaggregated statistical data is compiled has not been carried out during the reporting period. The Committee therefore once again invites the Government to provide statistics regularly to the ILO on the subjects covered by Parts II, III and IV of the Convention. The Committee hopes that the Government will be in a position in its next report to identify the measures adopted to ensure the availability of statistics disaggregated by sex and age (drawing a distinction between young persons and adults) (Article 10(2)) and to confirm that the index numbers of earnings required by Article 12 have been established. The Committee also recalls that statistics are required on time rates of wages and normal hours of work and that, under the terms of Article 15 of the Convention, such statistics shall be provided separately for the principal occupations at intervals of not more than three years (Part III of the Convention).

Hours of work. Methodological information. The Committee notes that, according to the information available to ILOSTAT, the latest data on hours actually worked (Parts II and IV), provided by ONEI refer to 2009 and 2010. The data is drawn from the National Employment Survey and is disaggregated by economic activity (including the categories of agriculture, stockbreeding, forestry and fishing, mining and quarrying, and manufacturing). The Committee notes, however, that none of these statistics are disaggregated by sex, age (distinguishing between young persons and adults), or any other characteristics of employed persons (Article 10(2)). In its response to the comments of the Committee, the Government indicates that the disaggregated data requested has not been produced during the reporting period. The Committee therefore once again recalls that, under the terms of Article 10(2) of the Convention, the statistics of hours actually worked shall be supplemented by separate figures for each sex and for adults and juveniles at least once every three years and where possible at shorter intervals. The Committee invites the Government to provide the Office with methodological information relating to working time (the concept of “hours actually worked”).

The Committee recalls that the ILO Governing Body, at its 334th Session, October–November 2018, on the recommendation of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group, confirmed the classification of the Convention concerning Statistics of Wages and Hours of Work, 1938 (No. 63) as an outdated instrument, and placed an item on the agenda of the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (2024) for the consideration of its abrogation or withdrawal. The Governing Body requested the Office to undertake follow-up action to actively encourage the ratification of up-to-date instruments concerning labour statistics. The Committee encourages the Government to follow-up the Governing Body’s decision at its 334th Session (October–November 2018) approving the recommendations of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group, and to consider ratifying the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160), as the most up-to-date instrument in this subject area.

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The Committee notes the Government’s report received in July 2014, in which it is indicated that the National Statistics and Information Office (ONEI) is currently developing the survey on wage rates and normal hours of work and earnings and hours actually worked and paid. The Government indicates that the ratification of the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160), is not currently envisaged.

Statistics disaggregated by sex and age. Wage indices. In its 2010 direct request, the Committee observed that annual statistics were being compiled on average monthly earnings covering all employed persons (workers and employees) in all branches of economic activity (including agriculture, mining and manufacturing, building and construction), in public and mixed enterprises in the formal sector, based on the annual reports provided by economic units in the formal sector (Article 5 and 22 of the Convention). The Committee notes that the ONEI publishes on its website annual statistics on average monthly wages, drawn from the National Employment Survey, for the total of all economic activities, and in particular for each of them, including the categories of agriculture, stockbreeding, forestry and fishing, mining and quarrying, and manufacturing. Nevertheless, statistics are not available disaggregated by sex, age (distinguishing between young persons and adults), or any other characteristics of employed persons (Article 10(2)), and index numbers of wages are not compiled (Article 12). The Committee invites the Government to continue providing statistics regularly to the ILO on the subjects covered by Parts II, III and IV of the Convention. The Committee hopes that the Government will be in a position in its next report to identify the measures adopted to ensure the availability of statistics disaggregated by sex and age (drawing a distinction between young persons and adults) (Article 10(2)) and confirm that the index numbers of earnings required by Article 12 have been established. The Committee also recalls that statistics are required on time rates of wages and of normal hours of work and that, under the terms of Article 15 of the Convention, such statistics shall be provided separately for the principal occupations at intervals of not more than three years (Part III of the Convention).

Hours of work. Methodological information. In its previous direct request, the Committee asked the Government to take measures to ensure that statistics are compiled on hours actually worked (Parts II and IV) and time rates of wages and of normal hours of work (Part III). The Committee notes that the ONEI provided the ILO Statistics Department with statistics on hours actually worked for 2009 and 2010, drawn from the National Employment Survey, disaggregated by economic activity (including the categories of agriculture, stockbreeding, forestry and fishing, mining and quarrying, and manufacturing). Nevertheless, the Office has still not been provided with such statistics for later years, nor statistics disaggregated by sex or separately for young persons and adults. The Committee once again recalls that, under the terms of Article 10(2) of the Convention, once every three years and where possible at shorter intervals, the statistics of hours actually worked shall be supplemented by separate figures for each sex and for adults and juveniles. The Committee therefore invites the Government to provide the Office with methodological information relating to working time (the concept of “hours actually worked”).

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In its previous direct request, the Committee asked the Government to take measures to ensure the compilation of statistics of hours actually worked (Parts II and IV of the Convention) and of time rates of wages and of normal hours of work (Part III). It notes with interest that the information required by the Convention with regard to statistics of wages and hours of work in each economic branch of the formal sector are compiled through current sources of statistics, namely: (i) the annual reports provided by economic units in the formal sector (Sistema de Información de Estadística Nacional, SIE-N and Sistema de Información de Estadísticas Complementarias, SIE-C; and (ii) the National Employment Survey (Encuesta Nacional de Ocupación (ENO)). It draws the Government’s attention to the new standards on the measurement of working time, namely Resolution I adopted at the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, of which the broader concepts and measures are defined in detail and are accessible through the Internet link www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Statistics/standards/resolutions/
lang--en/docName--WCMS_112456/index.htm.

Annual statistics of average monthly earnings covering all persons employed (wage-earners and employed persons) are compiled for all branches of economic activity (including agriculture, mining and manufacturing, building and construction), in public and mixed enterprises in the formal sector, based on the annual reports referred to above (Articles 5 and 22). However, the Committee notes that these statistics are not available for each sex, nor for any other characteristic of the persons employed (Article 10(2)) and that index numbers of wages are not compiled (Article 12). Recalling that, in accordance with Article 10(2) of the Convention, once every three years and where possible at shorter intervals the statistics of hours actually worked shall be supplemented by separate figures for each sex and for adults and juveniles, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide methodological information relating to working time (the concept of “hours actually worked”) and would continue to provide the ILO with statistics on each of the subjects covered by Parts II, III and IV as soon as possible.

Furthermore, with reference to its general observation of 2000, the Committee once again invites the Government to envisage the ratification of the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160), and to keep the ILO informed of any relevant information and any difficulties encountered. It recalls in this respect that the objective of the adoption of Convention No. 160 was the preparation of statistics to provide “the elements for describing, understanding, analysing and planning the many and complex dimensions of labour’s role in the functioning of the modern economy and of society in general” (ILC, 71st Session, 1985, Provisional Record No. 35). For this purpose, Convention No. 160 includes the necessary provisions for its flexible and gradual implementation. The Committee suggests that the Government may wish to seek technical assistance to be in a position to initiate the process of the ratification of the above Convention, which would ipso jure involve the denunciation of Convention No. 63.

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The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending July 2004 and the additional information provided subsequently. It notes with interest that the National Statistical Bureau (Oficina Nacional de Estadisticas) is continuing to improve the statistical systems in operation with a view to providing high-quality statistical data, particularly under Parts II and IV of the Convention.

However, the Committee notes that statistics of hours actually worked (Parts II and IV) and statistics of time rates of wages and of normal hours of work (Part III) do not appear to be compiled. It would therefore be grateful if the Government would take measures to ensure, in accordance with the requirements of the Convention, the compilation of such statistical data and their publication and communication to the ILO as soon as possible.

The Government is also requested to provide the ILO with existing data on wages disaggregated by sex or by any other characteristic of employees (Article 10).

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Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government's statement in the report that the National Office of Statistics (Oficina Nacional de Estad¡sticas, ONE) continues to improve the existing statistical system. It notes that it appears, from information available in the ILO, that two major sources of statistics (the annual reports submitted by economic units in the formal sector and the half-yearly labour force survey (Encuesta Nacional de Ocupaci¢n, ENO)) may be used to compile all or part of the information required by the Convention.

The Committee asks the Government to publish the relevant statistics and to communicate the data compiled to the ILO at the earliest possible date, in pursuance of the requirements of Article 1(b) and (c) of the Convention.

The Committee also notes the Government's indication that the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160), has been listed at the Treaties Coordination Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Relations with a view to considering its possible ratification. It would be grateful for information on the progress made in this regard.

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Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government's statement in the report that the State Committee of Statistics continues to improve the existing statistical system so as to provide better information related to the Convention.

The Committee notes with interest, in particular, that progress has been made as to the collection and publication of separate figures on average earnings and hours of work for mining and for manufacturing, according to the information available at the International Labour Office (Part II, Article 5(3)(a) of the Convention).

It requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to compile and publish statistics of time rates of wages and of normal hours of work in accordance with the provisions of Part III, and to compile and publish statistics of wages and hours of work in agriculture in accordance with Part IV.

The Committee also notes the Government's indication in response to its general observation of 1988 that analyses are under way, jointly with the Central Administration and Trade Unions, with a view to considering the possibility of ratifying Convention No. 160 on labour statistics of 1985, and requests the Government to keep it informed.

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With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information contained in the Government's last report in which it states that in recent years the Year Book of Statistics of Cuba has shown some progress towards fulfilling the requirements of the Convention, and also indicates that this is the objective pursued by those responsible for compiling the Year Book.

The Committee also notes the request made by the Government to the Office for technical assistance. The Committee hopes that with this technical assistance it will be possible to adopt practical measures to give full effect to the Convention.

Finally, the Committee hopes that the Government will consider it appropriate to take into account the suggestion made in its general observation.