Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Minimum Wage-Fixing Machinery Convention, 1928 (No. 26) - Lesotho (Ratification: 1966)

Article 3 of the Convention. Operation of the minimum wage-fixing machinery. Consultation of employers’ and workers’ organizations. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to continue to provide information on any progress made in strengthening the institutionalized framework for effective and genuine tripartite consultations in the operation of the minimum wage-fixing machinery. It notes that the Government indicates in its report that consultations were held with the representative organizations of workers for the establishment of the Wages Advisory Board. The Committee also notes that: (i) in accordance with sections 50 and 51 of the Labour Code, minimum wage rates may be established by the Minister of Labour acting upon the recommendations formulated by the Wages Advisory Board; (ii) section 52 of the Labour Code provides that the Board shall consider the revision of the minimum wage rates every calendar year; and (iii) the Board is composed of an equal number of representatives from workers’ and employers’ organizations (paragraphs 1 and 3 of the First Schedule of the Labour Code). The Committee further notes that minimum wage rates have last been revised in 2018 (Labour Code Wages (Minimum Wages) Notice of 23 August 2018). It notes that, while this revision appears to have been the result of a difficult process, the minimum wage levels set have been increased, bringing them closer to the levels recommended in the context of the technical assistance received from the ILO in 2012. Taking those circumstances into account, the Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the process which will lead to the next revisions of the minimum wage rates, including on the consultations which will be held in this respect.