Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, 1928 (No. 26) - Belize (RATIFICATION: 1983)

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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government, which answers the points raised in its previous direct request and has no further matters to raise in this regard.

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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

Article 3(2) of the Convention. Minimum wage fixing machinery. Tripartite consultations. The Committee notes that the Wages Councils (Wages Regulation) (Amendment) Order, 2010 (Statutory Instrument No. 79 of 2010) and the Wages Regulations (Manual Workers) (Amendment) Order, 2010 (Statutory Instrument No. 80 of 2010) set the hourly minimum wage rate at 3.10 Belize Dollars (BZD) (approximately US$1.58) for all adult workers in all industries, and at BZD3 (approximately US$1.53) for students. The Committee notes that these Orders were adopted following the recommendations of a tripartite Minimum Wage Task Force, whose final report was submitted in January 2010. The Task Force after having conducted surveys and having gathered data, presented its main findings and recommended: (i) the introduction of one minimum wage for all categories of adult workers and a lower minimum wage rate for students; (ii) the establishment of a minimum living wage index taking into account the variations of inflation on a bi-annual basis; and (iii) the ratification of the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131). The Committee understands that the Government pursues the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any progress made with regard to: (i) the development of a Minimum Living Wage Index and a formula for the calculation of the minimum wage; and (ii) the effective application of the national minimum wage to the agricultural and export-oriented sectors. It also requests the Government to indicate the reasons for establishing a differentiated minimum wage rate for students and how it is ensured in these circumstances that the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value is fully observed.

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Article 3(2) of the Convention. Minimum wage fixing machinery. Tripartite consultations. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s recent decisions to introduce one minimum wage for all workers, to be regularly adjusted in order to keep up with the rising cost of living. It notes, in particular, the adoption of the Wages Councils (Wages Regulation) (Amendment) Order, 2010 (Statutory Instrument No. 79 of 2010) and the Wages Regulations (Manual Workers) (Amendment) Order, 2010 (Statutory Instrument No. 80 of 2010), which set the hourly minimum wage rate at 3.10 Belize Dollars (BZD) (approximately US$1.58) for all adult workers in all industries, and at BZD3 (approximately US$1.53) for students. The Committee notes that these Orders were adopted following the recommendations of a tripartite Minimum Wage Task Force, whose final report was submitted in January 2010. The Task Force after having conducted surveys and having gathered data, presented its main findings and recommended: (i) the introduction of one minimum wage for all categories of adult workers and a lower minimum wage rate for students; (ii) the establishment of a minimum living wage index taking into account the variations of inflation on a bi-annual basis; and (iii) the ratification of the Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131). The Committee understands that the Government pursues the implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force. The Committee requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any progress made with regard to: (i) the development of a Minimum Living Wage Index and a formula for the calculation of the minimum wage; (ii) the effective application of the national minimum wage to the agricultural and export-oriented sectors, and (iii) the ratification of ILO Convention No. 131. It also requests the Government to indicate the reasons for establishing a differentiated minimum wage rate for students and how it is ensured in these circumstances that the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value is fully observed.

Article 5 and Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government on the evolution of the minimum wage rates between 1981 and 2009 and the number of complaints filed in the period 2007–10 concerning non compliance with the statutory minimum wage. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing up-to-date information concerning the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice.

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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its previous comment, in particular the appointment of a Minimum Wages Council in May 2006 with a view to formulating proposals for the revision of the different minimum wage rates and the possible introduction of a single national minimum wage for all categories of workers. According to the Government’s report, the Council consisted of an equal number of representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations, and three independent members. The Council conducted both a quantitative analysis based on criteria such as the needs of workers and their families, the general level of wages, the cost of living, social security benefits, the level of productivity and employment, and a qualitative analysis drawing upon the views and opinions of a wide cross spectrum of the population, including the business community, the agro-productive sector, NGOs, labour unions, workers and the public at large.

The Committee notes that, following the Minimum Wages Council’s recommendations presented in December 2006, the Government has decided to establish over the next three years a minimum wage rate of BZD3.0 for all workers. Consequently, the hourly minimum wage for domestic and shop assistants and for manual workers not engaged in agriculture was raised to BZD3.0 by virtue of Statutory Instruments No. 14 of 2007 and No. 60 of 2007, respectively, while the hourly minimum wage for manual workers engaged in agriculture was increased to BZD2.5 by virtue of Statutory Instrument No. 15 of 2007, it being understood that it will be further readjusted and set at BZD3.0 in 2010. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of all future developments concerning the progressive establishment of a minimum wage of general coverage and also any follow-up action to the conclusions of the Minimum Wages Council 2006.

Article 5 of the Convention and Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government concerning the size of the labour force by industry and occupation. It also notes the Government’s indication that the Labour Department of the Ministry of Education and Labour received and settled in 2006 approximately 20 complaints on minimum wage. The Committee would appreciate if the Government would continue to provide up to date information on the practical application of the Convention.

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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes with interest the Wages Council (Shop Assistants and Domestic Helpers) Order, 2002, made under section 7(6) of the Wages Council Act (Cap. 302), revised edition 2000, which sets new minimum hourly wage rates for shop employees and domestic servants. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report whether the minimum wage for manual workers, which was last fixed in 1992, has been reviewed and, if so, to forward a copy of the statutory instrument determining the new minimum wage rates.

Article 5 and Part V of the report form. The Committee notes that the latest statistics communicated by the Government on the number and different categories of workers covered by minimum wage provisions relate to 1996. It would, therefore, be grateful if the Government would make an effort to collect and transmit up-to-date and detailed information regarding the application of the Convention in practice, including copies of official reports or studies on minimum wage issues, data pertaining to the coverage of relevant legislation, extracts from inspection reports showing the number of infringements and sanctions imposed, as well as any other particulars bearing on the functioning of the minimum wage fixing machinery.

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The Committee notes with interest the information supplied in the Government’s report, in particular the Wages Council (Shop Assistants and Domestic Helpers) Order, 2002, made under section 7(6) of the Wages Council Act (Cap. 302), revised edition 2000, which sets new minimum hourly wage rates for shop employees and domestic servants. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report whether the minimum wage for manual workers, which was last fixed in 1992, has been reviewed and, if so, to forward a copy of the statutory instrument determining the new minimum wage rates.

Article 5 and Part V of the report form. The Committee notes that the latest statistics communicated by the Government on the number and different categories of workers covered by minimum wage provisions relate to 1996. It would, therefore, be grateful if the Government would make an effort to collect and transmit up-to-date and detailed information regarding the application of the Convention in practice, including copies of official reports or studies on minimum wage issues, data pertaining to the coverage of relevant legislation, extracts from inspection reports showing the number of infringements and sanctions imposed, as well as any other particulars bearing on the functioning of the minimum wage fixing machinery.

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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the detailed information provided in the Government’s report. It requests the Government to continue supplying general information, in accordance with Article 5 and Part V of the report form, on the application of the Convention in practice, including: (i) the available data on the number and different categories of workers covered by minimum provisions; and (ii) the results of inspections carried out (e.g. the number of violations of minimum wage provisions, the penalties imposed, etc.).

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The Committee notes the detailed information provided in the Government's report. It requests the Government to continue supplying general information, in accordance with Article 5 and point V of the report form, on the application of the Convention in practice, including: (i) the available data on the number and different categories of workers covered by minimum provisions; and (ii) the results of inspections carried out (e.g. the number of violations of minimum wage provisions, the penalties imposed, etc.).

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The Committee notes with regret that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following matters raised in its previous direct request:

The Committee noted that the Government had set up a National Wages Council for the purpose of establishing minimum wages for manual workers not covered by the previously established minimum wages for shop assistants and domestic workers. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the minimum wage fixing by National Wages Councils.

The Committee again expresses the hope that the Government will provide information on the number of workers covered by the minimum wage-fixing machinery as required in Article 5 of the Convention.

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The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following matters raised in its previous direct request:

The Committee noted that the Government had set up a National Wages Council for the purpose of establishing minimum wages for manual workers not covered by the previously established minimum wages for shop assistants and domestic workers. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the minimum wage fixing by National Wages Councils.

The Committee again expresses the hope that the Government will provide information on the number of workers covered by the minimum wage-fixing machinery as required in Article 5 of the Convention.

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The Committee notes from the information provided by the Government that it has recently set up a National Wages Council for the purpose of establishing minimum wages for manual workers not covered by the previously established minimum wages for shop assistants and domestic workers. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on this subject.

The Committee recalls that in its previous direct request it expressed the hope that the Government would provide information on the number of workers covered by the minimum wage-fixing machinery as required in Article 5 of the Convention. The Committee hopes that the Government will take the necessary measures to provide this information in its next report.

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Referring to the previous direct request, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government. It hopes that future reports will contain any available information on the number of workers covered by the minimum wage-fixing machinery as required in Article 5 of the Convention.