Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Mauritius (Ratification: 1994)

Article 3 of the Convention. Designing and revising concepts, definitions and methodology, in cooperation with the social partners. In its previous observation, the Committee invited the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to comply with its obligation to consult the social partners, in the event of designing or revising the concepts, definitions and methodology used in respect of the statistics required under the Convention. The Government indicates in its report that the social partners are informed in the event of major revisions in the concepts, definitions and methodology used in respect of labour statistics produced by Statistics Mauritius. The Committee recalls in this regard that Article 3 calls for consultation with the representative organizations of employers and workers with a view to taking into account their needs and ensuring their cooperation with regard to the statistics covered by the Convention. The Committee therefore requests that the Government provide further information on the application of Article 3 in practice.

Articles 7 and 8. Employment, unemployment and underemployment statistics. Statistics of the structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes that the Government continues to supply statistical data to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination through its website (ILOSTAT). Data supplied include statistics on the economically active population, employment and unemployment, as well as census data. The Committee also notes that the latest Labour Force Survey figures relate to 2014. In reply to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates that the 2011 methodological report on the latest (18th) Population Census and the census results are available on the Statistics Mauritius website. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply data and information on the methodology used in the application of these provisions of the Convention. It also invites the Government to provide information on any plans for conducting the next round of the Population Census. Please also include information on any developments in relation to the implementation of the Resolution concerning statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization (Resolution I), adopted by the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (October 2013).

Articles 9 and 10. Current statistics of average earnings and hours of work. Statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. Statistics of wage structure and distribution. The Committee notes that data on average hours of work relating to 2012, derived from the Continuous Multi-purpose Household Survey (CMPHS), have been transmitted to the ILO for dissemination on ILOSTAT. The CMPHS results on average monthly income by industrial sector and occupational group and information on the survey methodology are also provided. The Committee further notes with regard to Article 10 that statistics on the distribution of employed hours of work, industry, occupation as well as on income from work by industry, occupation and sex were derived from the 2014 CMPHS data and published in the annual Economic and Social Indicators on Labour Force, Employment and Unemployment in May 2015. The Committee requests that the Government continue to supply statistics on and any changes made to the application of these provisions.

Articles 14 and 15. Statistics of occupational injuries and diseases and of industrial disputes. The Committee notes that detailed statistics on occupational accidents, injuries and diseases are provided in an annex to the Government’s report and that the ILO Department of Statistics regularly receives statistics on fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries via its annual questionnaire on labour statistics. The statistics submitted through these means are derived from insurance records. The latest statistics received in this regard refer to 2012. The Committee further notes the detailed statistics provided on industrial disputes reported to the Commission for Conciliation and Mediation. In addition, the Government regularly communicates statistics on strikes and lockouts to the ILO via its annual questionnaire on labour statistics. The Committee welcomes the information provided and requests that the Government continue to supply up-to-date statistics in relation to Articles 14 and 15 of the Convention.

The Committee notes the following information concerning subjects covered by Part II of the Convention in respect of which the Government has not accepted the obligations of the Convention (Article 16(4)).

Article 11. Statistics of labour cost. The Committee notes that, while statistics on labour cost as such are not compiled in Mauritius, estimates of average compensation of employees per employee and per year (used as a proxy for labour cost) continue to be compiled. The Committee further notes that annual statistics on average compensation of employees, by economic activity, derived from the Household Budget Survey have been provided to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination on ILOSTAT, and that the most recent data refer to 2012. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the position of its law and practice in relation to statistics of labour cost as well as information on any new developments in this field.