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

Minimum Wage Fixing Convention, 1970 (No. 131) - Sri Lanka (Ratification: 1975)

The Committee notes the comments in the Government's last report concerning the observations made by the Ceylon Federation of Trade Unions, dated 10 October 1989, which were transmitted to the Government in a letter dated 27 October 1989.

In this connection, the Committee notes that the Government indicates in its report that there is an obligation on the parties to collective agreements to honour the terms agreed upon and violations, if any, may be reported to the competent authority for action. The Government also indicates that workers who are not covered by collective agreements are bound by the decisions of the Wages Boards and the provisions of the Shop and Office Employees' Act. Violations may be reported by the workers, and employers who have committed offences will be prosecuted.

While noting the Government's comments, the Committee recalls that, in its previous observation, it noted that the inspection service had been strengthened, but pointed out that, according to the statistical information provided in the Government's report, the amount of unpaid wages reported by the labour inspectors remained high. The Committee therefore once again expresses the hope that the Government will do its utmost to remedy this situation and will continue to provide information on the practical measures taken to ensure that effect is given to national regulations on minimum wages and to the Convention.

Article 4 of the Convention. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee recalls the observations made concerning the comments submitted by the United Plantation Workers' Union, the Democratic Workers' Congress, the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers' Union and the Ceylon Workers' Congress, as well as the Government's comments concerning the application of this Article. In this connection, the Committee recalls that in its previous comments, it noted the information contained in the Government's report (March 1990) to the effect that the wages of workers in the tea-growing and manufacturing trade, rubber-growing and manufacturing trade and the coconut-growing trade were increased substantially in 1988, but that the question of wage structure in the plantations sector needed elaborate analysis. At the time, the Committee expressed the hope that such an analysis would be undertaken in consultation with the employers' and workers' organisations concerned and that the machinery for fixing and adjusting minimum wages, provided for in the Wages Board Ordinance, would also be maintained and implemented in the plantations sector. The Committee again asks the Government to indicate the measures that have been taken or are contemplated for this purpose.

The Committee asks the Government to refer to the request being addressed to it directly concerning other points.