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

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report.

1. The Committee notes from the Government's report that the tripartite Labour Advisory Committee will be of much assistance in giving effect to the principle of the Convention. The Committee hopes that the Government will soon be able to report the progress made by this Committee, or by any other responsible authority, in re-examining national law and practice to give full effect to the provisions of the Convention. In this connection, the Committee recalls its previous comments with regard to the provisions of section 2 of the Employment (Equal Pay for Men and Women) Act 1975 which refers to "similar" or "substantially similar" job requirements while the Convention provides for equal remuneration for work of equal value, even if of a different nature.

2. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee hopes that the Government will soon be able to report completion of the Jamaican Dictionary of Occupational Titles.

3. The Committee notes that information is being sought from the Jamaica Employers' Federation and the Ministry of the Public Service regarding the implementation of the principle of equal remuneration with respect to benefits paid or granted in addition to salary. The Committee requests the Government to provide full particulars on this matter in its next report.

4. The Committee also notes that information is being sought from the Ministry of Education concerning the payment of marriage allowances to teaching staff (pursuant to Part II, section 5 of the Education Regulation 1980). It requests the Government to provide full information on the actual allocation of marriage allowances to male and female teaching personnel in public educational institutions.

5. The Committee further notes that the Heads of Agreement concluded between the Ministry of the Public Service and the Jamaica Civil Service Association (April 1989 to March 1991) includes a reference to reclassifying the posts of stenowriter and stenographer (paragraph 2(b)) and to adjusting disparities in salaries and allowances to officers in equivalent grades (paragraph 2(c)). It requests the Government to indicate in its next report the extent to which these measures may have assisted implementation of the Convention.