Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

The Committee notes the Government's report.

1. In its direct request of 1988, the Committee pointed out that section 4(II) of the Labour Code of 1987 provides for equal remuneration only for "work of the same nature and same volume carried out in identical conditions", whereas under the terms of the Convention, equal remuneration shall apply to all work "of equal value". The Committee notes, according to the Government's last report, that equality of remuneration for men and women workers who perform work of equal value, even if it is of a different nature, is applied through the work rules in the establishments that are covered by the Labour Code. It requests the Government to supply copies of these work rules in its next report.

2. With regard to bonuses and indemnities that are supplementary to wages, the Committee notes the Government's statement to the effect that they are determined as a function of the results of the enterprise and that they are assigned through agreements negotiated between organisations of employers and workers. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply copies of such agreements at the enterprise, corporation or other levels, as well as tables showing the distribution of bonuses and indemnities by category of worker and between men and women workers.

3. The Committee also notes that it does not have at its disposal recent information enabling it to assess the manner in which the principle of equal remuneration, as set out in the legislation, is applied in practice. It would therefore be grateful if the Government would supply in its next report:

(i) salary scales applicable in the public service, indicating the distribution of men and women at the various levels;

(ii) the text of collective or other agreements fixing wage levels in various sectors, indicating if possible the percentage of women covered by these collective agreements and the distribution of men and women at the various levels;

(iii) statistical data on wage rates and average earnings of men and women, if possible by occupation, branch of activity, seniority and skill level, as well as information on the corresponding percentage of women.

4. Furthermore, the Committee requests the Government to supply information on the measures that have been taken to supervise the application of legal provisions relating to equal wages and, in particular, on the activities of the labour inspection services (infringements noted and sanctions imposed) and on decisions handed down by the courts.