Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

1. Article 2 of the Convention. Application in practice of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value. Over the past few years, the Committee, while taking due note of the information provided by the Government that wages were determined by non-discriminatory laws, rules and regulations, has stressed the importance of also addressing wage inequalities between men and women that may exist in practice. The Committee notes that the Government in its most recent report, again merely points to the applicable legislation and wage scales, and states that there are no wage disparities between men and women and that no complaints have been submitted relating to unequal pay. The Government’s report also continues to omit information on the concrete measures taken to determine whether inequalities in remuneration exist in practice between men and women, especially when they are performing work that is of an entirely different nature, but nevertheless of equal value.

2. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the fact that difficulties in applying the Convention in law and in practice result, in particular, from a lack of understanding of the underlying factors contributing to wage inequalities, and of the scope and implications of the concept of “work of equal value”. The Committee recalls that inequalities in remuneration may be the result of a number of factors, including less career-oriented education, training and skills levels for women; horizontal and vertical occupational segregation of women into lower paying jobs or occupations; and to the fact that household and family responsibilities are still primarily borne by women. The Committee refers the Government to its general observation of 2006 on this Convention, which clarifies the meaning of the concept of “work of equal value”, and which explains some of the underlying causes of unequal remuneration between men and women that may exist in practice. In its observation, the Committee highlights, for example, the fact that historical attitudes towards the role of women in society, along with stereotypical assumptions regarding women's aspirations, preferences, capabilities and “suitability” for certain jobs, have all contributed to occupational sex segregation in the labour market. As a result, certain jobs are held predominantly or exclusively by women and others by men. These views and attitudes also tend to result in the undervaluation of these “female jobs” in comparison with jobs held by men who are performing different work and using different skills, when determining wage rates. The Committee urges the Government to undertake the necessary studies to determine the nature, extent and causes of any inequalities in remuneration that may exist in practice between men and women for work of equal value in the public and private sectors, and to identify specific measures to address these inequalities. The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future, and provide information on the progress made in its next report.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.