Guatemala

Organization responsible for the statistics

The statistics are collected by the Inspección General de Trabajo, compiled by the Departamento de Estadisticas del Trabajo and published by the Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social.

Objectives and users

Not available.

Coverage

Strikes and lockouts

The statistics relate to de facto actions (acciones de hecho) which, as they do not respect the administrative procedures laid down by labour law, are considered to be illegal. These de facto actions concern labour disputes (conflictos colectivos) within the enterprise, although a distinction is possible between strikes and other actions.

Economic activities

No particular branches of economic activity or sectors are excluded.

Geographic areas

Whole country.

Types of data collected

Concepts and definitions

Legal strike (huelga legal)

In accordance with section 239 of the Labour Code, a lawful strike means a temporary suspension and stoppage of work in an undertaking agreed to, carried out and maintained peacefully by a group of three or more employees after the legal conditions have been fulfilled.

De facto strike (huelga de hecho)

A temporary suspension and stoppage of work in an undertaking carried out by three or more employees without fulfilling the statutory requirements (illegal strike).

Labour dispute (conflicto laboral)

A situation which arises at a workplace where workers carry out de facto measures to claim their rights.

Lockout (paro)

In accordance with section 245 of the Labour Code, a lawful lockout means a temporary suspension and cessation of work ordered and maintained by one or more employers peacefully and with the exclusive purpose of defending their economic interests. It implies the total closure of the enterprise.

De facto lockout (paro de hecho)

A temporary suspension and cessation of work ordered by one or more employers without fulfilling the necessary legal requirements (illegal lockdut).

Employers' closure (cierre patronal)

When the employer in one workplace fails to fulfil his obligations inherent in the labour relationship and does not abide by the necessary legal requirements.

The definitions are from labour standards as contained in Codes, Regulations, Agreements and collective labour agreements on working conditions.

Methods of measurement

Strikes and lockouts

The basic unit of measurement used to record strikes or lockouts is the case of dispute and the economic unit (the place of work).

Classifications

None.

Reference period and periodicity

Statistics are compiled and published for periods of a year. Information collected refers to actions beginning during the particular reference period.

Analytical measures

None.

Historical background of the series

Not available.

Documentation

Series avaialble

Not available.

Bibliographic references

Inspección General de Trabajo: Informe Anual de Labores.

Data published by the ILO

The number of strikes and lockouts, the number of workers involved and the number of days not worked, by economic activity.

Confidentiality

Not available.

International standards

Not available.

Methods of data collection

There is a legal obligation to report the occurrence of a strike to the labour authorities, Ministerio de Trabajo y Previsión Social, Inspección General de Trabajo y Juzgados de Trabajo. A standard form is being prepared by the Inspección General de Trabajo to report details of strike action. This includes information concerning the branch of economic activity of the enterprise and the number of employees, the number of workers on strike, and the union or organised labour grouping concerned, an estimate of days not worked, the type of strike (intermittent, progressive, indefinite), the different conciliation and legal procedures followed, and the cause of the strike (16 possible causes listed).