Convention concerning Statistics of Wages and Hours of Work, 1938 (No. 63) - Barbados (Ratification: 1967)

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

Parts I, II and IV of the Convention. Statistics relating to wages and hours of work. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that no results have been published by the Barbados Statistical Service (BSS) in relation to the Quarterly Survey of Employment, Earnings and Hours (SEEH) of the Survey of Labour Costs and Wage Rates. As regards the exclusion of Part III of the Convention, the Committee also notes the Government’s reference to the absence of progress towards its application thereof. Moreover, the Committee notes that the Government transmitted with its report a copy of the respective Statistical Bulletin on the Continuous Household Labour Force Sample Survey for all four quarters of 2014. The Committee notes that statistics on hours of work, wages and earnings of employees are not disseminated or reported directly to the ILO Department of Statistics, despite being collected and produced by the above-referred Survey. Additionally, the statistical information concerning average earnings and hours actually worked in mining and manufacturing industries (Part II) and wages and hours of work in agriculture (Part IV) does not appear to be disseminated through the BSS website, nor is it directly submitted to the ILO Department of Statistics. The Committee requests that the Government ensure the regular communication of updated statistical and methodological information on wages or earnings and hours of work.

The Committee notes the recommendations of the Standards Review Mechanism Tripartite Working Group and the corresponding decision of the Governing Body at its 328th Session in October–November 2016 (GB.328/LILS/2/1) calling upon the Office to commence follow-up with member States that are still bound by the Convention, encouraging them to ratify the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160), as the most up-to-date instrument in this area, and resulting in the automatic denunciation of Convention No. 63. The Committee reminds the Government of the availability of ILO technical assistance in this regards.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

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 comments.

Repetition

The Committee notes the Government’s replies to its previous request according to which the legislation which rules the implementation of the “Quarterly Survey of Employment, Earnings and Hours of Work” (SEEH) is the “Statistics Act Cap 192”. It also notes the communication of copies of the Act and the survey questionnaire entitled “Survey of employment, earnings and hours”. The Committee notes, however, that no statistics which could be derived from the quarterly SEEH have been transmitted to the ILO.

Since the latest SEEH was apparently conducted in 2007, the Committee asks the Government to communicate its results and indicate the steps taken to publish or disseminate its results.

In the previous report, mention was also made of the new annual Survey of Labour Cost and Wage Rates (SLCW), but none of the results have been transmitted to the ILO. The Committee recalls that, in principle, once these surveys are improved with a view to reducing the non-response rate and improving the reliability of the estimates, they should provide the statistics which are required to satisfy the major requirements of Parts II, III and IV of the Convention.

Referring to its previous comments whereby it noted the indication that the Government was considering the ratification of the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160), the Committee would like to draw to the Government’s attention that such statistics would also fulfil the major requirements of Article 9(1) and (2) and Article 11 of the said instrument. The Committee draws the attention of the Government to the new international standards concerning the measurement of working time (see Resolution I adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians.

Noting that the Government provides no updated information as to the prospects for the ratification of Convention No. 160, the Committee requests it to do so and, in any case, encourages it strongly to take the necessary steps to this end, taking advantage of the support of the employers’ and workers’ organizations mentioned in its previous report.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

The Committee notes the Government’s replies to its previous request according to which the legislation which rules the implementation of the “Quarterly Survey of Employment, Earnings and Hours of Work” (SEEH) is the “Statistics Act Cap 192”. It also notes the communication of copies of the Act and the survey questionnaire entitled “Survey of employment, earnings and hours”. The Committee notes, however, that no statistics which could be derived from the quarterly SEEH have been transmitted to the ILO.

Since the latest SEEH was apparently conducted in 2007, the Committee asks the Government to communicate its results and indicate the steps taken to publish or disseminate its results.

In the previous report, mention was also made of the new annual Survey of Labour Cost and Wage Rates (SLCW), but none of the results have been transmitted to the ILO. The Committee recalls that, in principle, once these surveys are improved with a view to reducing the non-response rate and improving the reliability of the estimates, they should provide the statistics which are required to satisfy the major requirements of Parts II, III and IV of the Convention.

Referring to its previous comments whereby it noted the indication that the Government was considering the ratification of the Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160), the Committee would like to draw to the Government’s attention that such statistics would also fulfil the major requirements of Article 9(1) and (2) and Article 11 of the said instrument. The Committee draws the attention of the Government to the new international standards concerning the measurement of working time (see Resolution I adopted by the 18th International Conference of Labour Statisticians, whose larger number of concepts and measures would seem to be better aligned with national practice accessible via www.ilo.org/global/What_we_do/Statistics/standards/resolutions/lang--en/
docName--WCMS_112455/index.htm).

Noting that the Government provides no updated information as to the prospects for the ratification of Convention No. 160, the Committee requests it to do so and, in any case, encourages it strongly to take the necessary steps to this end, taking advantage of the support of the employers’ and workers’ organizations mentioned in its previous report.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

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:

Compilation of the required statistics. The Committee notes the steps taken to carry out an enhanced quarterly Survey of Employment, Earnings and Hours (SEEH), as well as a new annual Survey of Labour Cost and Occupational Wage Rates. It hopes that once these surveys have been improved, to increase the response rate the Government will be able to compile, publish and transmit to the ILO the statistics required under Parts II and IV of the Convention.

Prospects for the ratification of Convention No. 160. Referring to its previous comments on this subject, the Committee notes that the ratification of Convention No. 160 is currently being considered and that the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) and the Barbados Employers’ Confederation (BEC) have expressed their support for its ratification.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Compilation of the required statistics. The Committee notes the steps taken to carry out an enhanced quarterly Survey of Employment, Earnings and Hours (SEEH), as well as a new annual Survey of Labour Cost and Occupational Wage Rates. It hopes that once these surveys have been improved, to increase the response rate the Government will be able to compile, publish and transmit to the ILO the statistics required under Parts II and IV of the Convention.

Prospects for the ratification of Convention No. 160. Referring to its previous comments on this subject, the Committee notes with interest that the ratification of Convention No. 160 is currently being considered and that the Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) and the Barbados Employers’ Confederation (BEC) have expressed their support for its ratification.

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

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

In its previous comments concerning Parts II and IV of the Convention, the Committee asked the Government to make efforts to resume the compilation and publication of statistics of wages and hours of work required under these Parts of the Convention, and to continue to provide information on any progress made in this respect, especially following the technical assistance provided by the Office and the participation of officials from Barbados in the Subregional Workshop on the Development of a Wage Statistics Programme for the Caribbean (November 1996). Noting the Government’s indication in its report that the Statistical Department is in the process of improving the response rate and coverage of statistics on employment and earnings, the Committee again requests the Government to provide more information on the abovementioned points.

The Committee again draws the Government’s attention, as it did in its general observation of 1988 and general direct request of 1999, to Convention No. 160 concerning labour statistics, adopted in 1985, which revised the present Convention. The Committee recalls the "principles of flexibility and gradualism" of Convention No. 160, and would like to invite the Government to give consideration to the possibility of ratifying Convention No. 160.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

In its previous comments concerning Parts II and IV of the Convention, the Committee asked the Government to make efforts to resume the compilation and publication of statistics of wages and hours of work required under these Parts of the Convention, and to continue to provide information on any progress made in this respect, especially following the technical assistance provided by the Office and the participation of officials from Barbados in the Subregional Workshop on the Development of a Wage Statistics Programme for the Caribbean (November 1996). Noting the Government’s indication in its report that the Statistical Department is in the process of improving the response rate and coverage of statistics on employment and earnings, the Committee again requests the Government to provide more information on the abovementioned points.

The Committee again draws the Government’s attention, as it did in its general observation of 1988 and general direct request of 1999, to Convention No. 160 concerning labour statistics, adopted in 1985, which revised the present Convention. The Committee recalls the "principles of flexibility and gradualism" of Convention No. 160, and would like to invite the Government to give consideration to the possibility of ratifying Convention No. 160.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

The Committee has been making comments concerning Parts II and IV of the Convention, asking the Government to make efforts to resume the compilation and publication of statistics of wages and hours of work required under these Parts of the Convention. It requests the Government to continue to provide information on any progress made in this respect, especially following the above-mentioned technical assistance provided by the Office and the participation of officials from Barbados in the Subregional Workshop on the Development of a Wage Statistics Programme for the Caribbean (November 1996). The Committee also draws the Government's attention, as it did in its general observation of 1988, to Convention No. 160 concerning labour statistics adopted in 1985 and which revised the present Convention. The Committee recalls the "principles of flexibility and gradualism" of Convention No. 160, and would like to invite the Government to give consideration to the possibility of ratifying Convention No. 160.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest that an advisory mission of the ILO concerning labour statistics visited Barbados in November 1996, according to the suggestion of the Committee.

The Committee has been making comments concerning Parts II and IV of the Convention, asking the Government to make efforts to resume the compilation and publication of statistics of wages and hours of work required under these Parts of the Convention. It requests the Government to continue to provide information on any progress made in this respect, especially following the above-mentioned technical assistance provided by the Office and the participation of officials from Barbados in the Subregional Workshop on the Development of a Wage Statistics Programme for the Caribbean (November 1996).

The Committee also draws the Government's attention, as it did in its general observation of 1988, to Convention No. 160 concerning labour statistics adopted in 1985 and which revised the present Convention. The Committee recalls the "principles of flexibility and gradualism" of Convention No. 160, and would like to invite the Government to give consideration to the possibility of ratifying Convention No. 160.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

Further to its previous comments concerning Parts II and IV of the Convention, the Committee notes the Government's indication that technical assistance of the ILO has been requested. It hopes that the Government will continue to make efforts to resume the compilation and publication of statistics of wages and hours of work required under these Parts of the Convention. Please continue to provide information on any progress made in this respect.

The Committee recalls that, in its general observation of 1988, it brought to the attention of the governments of member States, Convention No. 160 concerning Labour Statistics adopted in 1985 and its "principles of flexibility and gradualism". It would like to invite the Government to give consideration to the possibility of ratifying Convention No. 160.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

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 the Government's statement that there had been some improvement in the employers' response to carrying out an employment and earnings survey, but not enough to permit publication of the data. The Committee hopes that the Government will continue to make efforts to resume the compilation and publication of statistics of wages and hours of work required under Parts II and IV of the Convention so as to give effect to the Convention. In this respect, the Committee once again expresses the hope that the Government will consider its earlier suggestion to request the technical assistance of the International Labour Office in this respect.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

The Committee notes that the Government's report contains no reply to its comments. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the following matters raised in its previous direct request:

The Committee noted the Government's statement that there had been some improvement in the employers' response to carrying out an employment and earnings survey, but not enough to permit publication of the data. The Committee hopes that the Government will continue to make efforts to resume the compilation and publication of statistics of wages and hours of work required under Parts II and IV of the Convention so as to give effect to the Convention. In this respect, the Committee once again expresses the hope that the Government will consider its earlier suggestion to request the technical assistance of the International Labour Office in this respect.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

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 Government's statement that there has been some improvement in the employers' response to carrying out an employment and earnings survey, but not enough to permit publication of the data. The Committee hopes that the Government will continue to make efforts to resume the compilation and publication of statistics of wages and hours of work required under Parts II and IV of the Convention so as to give effect to the Convention. In this respect, the Committee once again expresses the hope that the Government will consider its earlier suggestion to request the technical assistance of the International Labour Office in this respect.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1988, published 75th ILC session (1988)

The Committee notes the Government's statement that there has been some improvement in the employers' response to carrying out an employment and earnings survey, but not enough to permit publication of the data. The Committee hopes that the Government will continue to make efforts to resume the compilation and publication of statistics of wages and hours of work required under Parts II and IV of the Convention so as to be able to provide for the Convention's application. In this respect, the Committee once again expresses the hope that the Government will consider its earlier suggestion to request the technical assistance of the International Labour Office in this respect.