Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Labour Statistics Convention, 1985 (No. 160) - Guatemala (Ratification: 1993)

Article 7 of the Convention. Statistics of the economically active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the National Employment and Income Survey (ENEI), which has been conducted almost annually since 2012 by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), apart from 2020 due to restriction related to the COVID-19 pandemic. It further notes that 19 rounds of ENEI have been completed, producing information on employment, unemployment, and visible underemployment disaggregated by metropolitan, other urban and rural areas. With respect to the implementation of Resolution I of 19th ICLS 2013, the Committee note that, while the ENEI was initially based on the standards of the 13th ICLS (1982), the survey instruments were revised as of the 2021 edition to incorporate the new concepts and definitions. It observes that results based on the 19th ICLS definitions are still under development and evolution by INE. The Committee encourages the Government to continue to provide up-to-date information and data, especially any updates regarding the implementation of Resolution I of the 19th International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) on “Statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization”. The Committee invites the Government to provide further details on the implementation of the Resolution on statistics of employment relations, adopted at the 20th ICLS in 2018, as well as the Resolution on statistics of the informal economy, adopted by the 21st ICLS in 2023. 

Article 8. Structure and distribution of the economically active population. The Committee notes that the latest population census was conducted in 2002. The data have been transmitted to the ILO Department of Statistics for dissemination through ILOSTAT and are also publicly accessible on the INE website. It further notes that ENEI data provides detailed information on the structure and distribution of the economically active population, disaggregated by gender, age group and geographical area. The Committee acknowledges the Government’s efforts to consider the implementation of the Resolution on statistics of work, employment and labour underutilization adopted at the 19th ICLS. It encourages the Government to continue providing data and methodologies to the ILO Department of Statistics as soon as the results of the next census become available. The Committee also invites the Government to provide further details on the implementation of the Resolution on statistics of employment relationships adopted at the 20th ICLS (2018), as well as the Resolution on statistics of the informal economy adopted at the 21st ICLS (2023).

Article 9. Current statistics of average earnings and hours of work. Statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government and available in ILOSTAT, concerning statistics on average hourly earnings and weekly hours of work collected though the Household Income and Expenditure Survey, with the latest data referring to 2023 (Article 9(1)). The Committee also notes that the Government’s report contains no new information concerning current statistics of average earnings and hours of work.

With respect to statistics of time rates of wages and normal hours of work (Article 9(2)), the Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no information on these statistics, with Government indicating that the relevant collection tool, the National Employment and Income Survey, only collects monthly earnings of salaried workers, without distinguishing between regular and overtime hours, and without including hourly wage data. Furthermore, the Committee notes that the National Institute of Statistics currently collects data on hours usually worked per week, through household surveys. The Institute has indicated that compilation of these statistics requires a clear national definition of time-based wage rates, as well as the establishment of appropriate methodologies thereafter. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide updated information on average wages and hours of work, including methodological updates, in relation to its obligations under Article 9(1) of the Convention, and to keep the ILO informed of any further developments envisaged for the collection, compilation, and dissemination of these statistics. With regard to Article 9(2), the Committee invites the Government to take the necessary measures to compile these statistics, and to provide the ILO Department of Statistics with updated information on relevant definitions, concepts, methodologies, and data as soon as they become available. In this respect, the Committee reminds the Government that it may avail itself of technical assistance from the Office, should it so wish.

Article 10. Statistics of wage structure and distribution. The Committee notes that no detailed statistics on the structure and distribution of wages are currently available on ILOSTAT. The Government’s report provides partial information on wage statistics. These figures are collected through the National Employment and Income Survey (ENEI) and provide data on monthly earnings of salaried workers, with the most recent data relating to the 2016–2022 period. Figures include average monthly income for the first job by composition, income including overtime, hours worked per month, and income disaggregated by hours worked. However, the Survey does not distinguish between hourly wages for regular or overtime hours, and no detailed statistics on the structure of wages (such as basic pay, premium pay, or allowances) are currently compiled. The Committee encourages the Government to continue developing and communicating to the ILO Department of Statistics relevant statistics on the composition of earnings and hours of work, including regular and overtime wages, as soon as such data becomes available.

Article 11. Labour costs. The Committee notes that no statistics on labour costs are currently available on ILOSTAT. The Government indicates that the ENEI Survey does not collect data on labour costs and only captures information on monthly wages and earnings. Estimates of labour costs in the formal sector, including wages, bonuses, overtime, commissions, allowances, severance pay, and other payments, are comprised annually through the Employer Report, conducted by the Labour Statistics Directorate of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare. The National Institute of Statistics further indicates that the compilation and publication of official labour cost statistics would require establishing surveys based on a sampling frame developed from an Economic Census. This step was scheduled for 2024, along with the Master Sampling Framework planned for 2025. The Committee invites the Government to continue its efforts to develop and publish comprehensive statistics on labour costs and to keep the ILO Department of Statistics informed of any progress in this matter.

Article 13.Statistics of household income and expenditures. The Committee notes that no statistics on household income and expenditure are currently available in ILOSTAT. Household income and expenditure data are collected primarily through the National Household Income and Expenditure Survey (ENIGH, previously ENIGFAM) and, alternatively, through National Survey of Living Conditions (ENCOVI). The Committee observes that the National Institute of Statistics (INE) conducted the ENIGH 2021/22, covering over 15,000 households across all 22 departments, using the updated Master Sampling Framework derived from the 2018 census. The survey was carried out with technical assistance from international partners (World Bank, IMF and ECLAC) and included detailed records of household consumption over 7 consecutive days. Furthermore, the Committee notes that the Labour Statistics Directorate considers the ENIGH to be updated every 5 years and that the INE has guidelines on the planning and timing of future rounds of the survey. The Committee encourages the Government to continue compiling and publishing these statistics, and to supply the ILO Department of Statistics of the results for dissemination through ILOSTAT.

Article 14. Statistics of occupational injuries. According to the Government, the Guatemalan Social security Institute (IGSS) collects data on occupational injuries and diseases for formal sector worker and all social security affiliates. IGSS uses a primary transactional system for data recording, consulting membership records to verify eligibility, and classifying diagnoses according to the ICD-10 system. The Committee notes that the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) operates an Occupational Health Programme, which develops comprehensive healthcare standards and guidelines to prevent occupational risks, including musculoskeletal, physical/environmental, ergonomic, and biological hazards. Records of occupational health events exist; however, the variable ”worker” has not been incorporated into the information system, and there is not disaggregated work-related data available. The Committee requests the Government to supply the ILO Department of Statistics with available statistics on occupational injuries and diseases, together with information on their coverage, the main definitions used, and the methodology applied for their compilation as soon as they become available for dissemination on ILOSTAT and to provide information on any changes relevant to the application of this Article, especially in view of the inclusion of “safe and healthy working environment” as afundamental principle and right at work by the International Labour Conference under paragraph 2 of the ILO 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work at its 110th Session in June 2022.