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

1. The Committee notes from the Government's report that separate wage rates for men and women workers appear to be fixed by minimum wage legislation in Kerala (construction and agriculture) and in Tamil Nadu (rubber factories and fieldwork in plantations) on the basis that workers are assigned to different kinds of jobs, the more arduous or dangerous work being carried out by men and the lighter work by women. The Committee requests the Government to furnish copies of the minimum wage provisions covering these categories of employment and any other categories where separate wage rates are fixed for men and women under state or central jurisdictions.

2. Further to its previous comment, the Committee notes from the report that of the 134 women employed in the South Central Railway who had been made casual following the introduction of equal remuneration standards, 127 have since been absorbed into regular employment and another two were empanelled for regular employment and were to have been absorbed upon resuming duty after periods of leave. The remaining five women had not yet been screened and empanelled because they were still very junior in their respective seniority units, and they would have to wait for absorption in turn with casual male labour. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information concerning the empanelment and absorption of these women workers.