Using household and labour force survey data from 11 developing countries, the authors calculate rates of minimum wage compliance for formal/ informal employees covered by current legislation and assess the average "depth" of violations. Though compliance is negatively related to the ratio of minimum to median wages, countries with a national minimum wage set at a meaningful level typically achieve higher compliance rates than countries with occupational or industry-specific minimum wage systems. However, better compliance -especially for women, ethnic groups, and unskilled and informal workers -also depends on contextualized yet comprehensive minimum wage policies combining union/employer involvement, awareness-raising and credible enforcement.

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Resumen A partir de datos estadísticos, los autores analizan la cobertura del salario mínimo en once países en desarrollo, su grado de incumplimiento y la brecha salarial derivada de este, tanto para trabajadores formales como informales. Observan que los países con salario mínimo nacional (aun a buen nivel en relación con la mediana salarial) obtienen mejor cumplimiento que aquellos con salarios mínimos múltiples por ocupación y sector. Abogan además por políticas amplias de sensibilización y control con participación de los interlocutores sociales a fin de afrontar la brecha superior que afecta a las mujeres, los grupos étnicos y los trabajadores no calificados e informales.

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The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the view of the World Bank, its Executive Directors, or the countries they represent.