Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report and the provisions of the collective agreements attached thereto.

1. The Committee requests the Government to provide an explanation of the criteria and procedures used in devising the job classifications and wage rates contained in collective agreements, in particular for those agreements covering the employment of a significant number of women (such as may be the case for the agreement concluded between the Central Bank of Swaziland and the Swaziland Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers, dated 23 June 1989). The Committee also requests the Government to indicate the categories in which women are mainly or predominantly employed under such agreements.

2. The Committee notes that the Third Schedule (clause 11) Weekly Ration Scale to the collective agreement concluded for the Swaziland Sugar Manufacturing and Refining Industry (which came into operation on 1 April 1989) establishes different ration entitlements for married and single employees. According to note (1) of the Schedule "a married employee is an employee who has registered a wife with the employing company subject to the relevant registration rules, and whose wife is normally resident on the estate with the employee". With reference to Article 1(a) of the Convention, under which the term "remuneration" includes not only the basic wage but also any additional emoluments payable directly or indirectly, whether in cash or in kind, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or under consideration to ensure that such benefits as food rations are allocated or provided without discrimination on the basis of sex.

3. In its previous comment, the Committee requested the Government to supply more detailed information concerning the manner in which the principle of equal remuneration is applied with respect to all elements of remuneration paid or granted to public sector employees. The Committee notes, in this regard, that the provisions concerning the allocation of government quarters contained in the General Orders, refer to circumstances of houses owned by an "officer or his wife". (Sections A704 (Amendment No. A72 of April 1980); A705(4) (Amendment No. A32 of April 1976); A706 (Amendment No. A50 of November 1977).) Accordingly, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or contemplated to ensure the application of the principle of equal remuneration to public sector employees (regarding not only the basic salary but any other additional emoluments whatsoever, including housing and family allowances) and also to supply copies of the relevant provisions of the General Orders.

4. With reference to its comments under Convention No. 111, the Committee requests the Government to consider, in the course of amending industrial and employment legislation pursuant to ILO assistance, the possibility of including a provision (in, for example, the Industrial Relations Act) requiring the negotiating parties in the public and private sectors to ensure observance of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value in all agreements.