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

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

The Committee notes the Government’s report. It would like to request additional information concerning the application of the following provisions of the Convention.

Articles 7 and 8 of the Convention. Labour force survey. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would send to the ILO the data on paid employment derived from the establishment survey (Encuesta de Empleo, Horas y Salarios),as it has for the data on hours and wages derived from the same establishment survey.

With regard to Article 8, the Committee asks the Government to indicate whether and, if so, when it is envisaged that the next round of the population census will be carried out.

Article 9, paragraph 1. The Committee notes that full effect is not yet given to this provision, as the scope of the statistics of average hours actually worked and earnings derived from the establishment survey Encuesta de Empleo, Horas y Salarios, which has now been extended to "trade" in addition to manufacturing, is still limited to the urban sector. The Committee invites the Government to continue supplying any statistics compiled on the subjects covered by this Article, as well as details on their sources, methodology and publication.

The Committee also notes that the restructured establishment survey (Encuesta de Empleo, Horas y Salarios) is still limited to two branches of economic activity and that the statistics derived from the three sources (the restructured establishment survey, the household survey and administrative records) are barely comparable, due to differences in scope, coverage, data collection methods, etc.

The Committee notes with interest, however, that it is envisaged to set up a National Institute of Statistics, which would help in harmonizing and unifying various aspects of labour statistics. It would be grateful if the Government would keep the ILO informed of any further developments in this area.

Article 9, paragraph 2. The Committee notes that there is a discrepancy between the Government’s report and the information received by the ILO from the Department of Statistics regarding the geographical coverage of the survey (Encuesta de Salerios y Horas de Trabajo). The Office will endeavour to try to clarify this point.

Article 10. The Committee notes the statement in the report that the household survey (EHPM) presents information relating to the structure of earnings and hours of work, according to the guidelines provided under Paragraphs 5(1) and (2) of Recommendation No. 170. It requests the Government to communicate such information to the ILO as, despite several attempts, it has not been possible to find it on the national web site.

Article 11. The Committee notes that statistics on the level and structure of labour costs are still not compiled and requests the Government to communicate to the ILO the relevant methodological information and the resulting statistics as soon as practicable.

Article 12. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the obligations set out in under Article 5 concerning the regular communication of published statistics to the ILO and it would be grateful if the Government would: (i) update the annual series by replying to the questionnaire in the Yearbook; and (ii) send to the ILO the publications mentioned in its seventh report ("Indices de Precios al Consumidor, IPC", the relevant press release and "Estadísticas Laborales", an annual paper published by the Ministry of Labour).

Article 13. The Committee hopes that the Government will soon comply with the requirement to produce statistics on household income and expenditure at least once every ten years.

Article 14. The Committee notes the information provided in the report with respect to the coverage of the statistics on occupational injuries and requests to be kept informed of any plans the Government may have to extend the coverage of the statistics, so as to be more representative of the country as a whole.

Referring to its previous comments (2000) under this Article, the Committee hopes that the Government will send the information requested with respect to Articles 2, 3 and 6.

Article 15. Referring once again to its previous comments, the Committee reiterates its request as concerns the specific standards and guidelines followed (Article 2) for the statistics covered by this Article.