Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report.

1. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the legislation in force (and particularly section 47 of Legislative Decree No. 507 of 1958, containing regulations on the labour law, and section 69(1) of the Rural Labour Code) appears to establish the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for the same work but not for work of equal value. The Committee notes the Government's reply that the principle of equal remuneration has been applied since 1979. The Committee once again points out that the relevant legislation appears to encompass the concept of equal wages only for the same work, which does not fully correspond to the principle of equal remuneration set out in the Convention.

2. In this connection, the Committee notes with interest the Government's indication that the national classification of occupations has been revised, with the help of technical co-operation from Portugal, and that it is currently going to press. The Committee also notes the information supplied by the Government that the application of the wage table, which has already been formulated, is awaiting the revisions and adjustments that must be made to the current wage scale within the context of the structural adjustment programme that is currently being implemented. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the new classification of occupations and the new wage table assist in giving effect to the principle of equal remuneration, as set out in the Convention, by attributing a value to the various jobs on the basis of an objective appraisal of them (see Article 3 of the Convention). The Committee requests the Government to supply a copy of the new national classification of occupations, a copy of the new wage table and information on the progress achieved in this respect. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate the occupations and sectors of the national economy to which the classification of occupations and the wage table are applied.

3. The Committee notes the Government's statement that the application of the principle of equal remuneration for wages that are higher than the minimum wages applicable in Sao Tome and Principe depends essentially, among other factors, on the degree of autonomy, responsibility and training, as well as the complexity of operations involved in the performance of each job. The Committee notes these explanations, which do not fully reply to the questions it raised previously concerning how effect is given in such cases to the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value. The Committee hopes that the Government will supply information on this point in its next report.

4. Article 4 of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government's statement that the plan to establish an advisory committee of enterprise managers has been taken up again, that it is hoped that it will be put into practice in the near future and that ILO technical co-operation is being requested for this purpose. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the progress achieved in setting up this advisory committee or on other means of associating employers with the application of the principle of equal remuneration.