Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

With reference to its previous direct requests, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report and the attached documents.

1. The Committee notes the collective agreement of the CACTUS group (in the commercial wholesale sector) which sets out the principle of equal remuneration (section 17.1). The Committee notes that according to the Government, for reasons of their physical build, women cannot hold many of the jobs in the Villeroy and Boch factory. The Government indicates that, according to Villeroy and Boch, most of the jobs held principally by women (decorators, sorters, assemblers and finishers) are paid on a piece-work basis, which makes it possible to increase their wages by up to 65 per cent of the basic salary. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the basic wage is the same for men and women and whether, for the same piece that is produced, their remuneration is the same.

2. The Committee had noted the lack of provisions setting out the principle of equal remuneration in the collective agreements that were supplied, other than the agreement covering the Villeroy and Boch enterprise. The Committee notes, from the Government's report, the various legal measures and the supervision carried out by the labour inspection service, as well as at the time of the general compulsory registration of collective agreements, with a view to including the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value in collective agreements. The Committee requests the Government to continue supplying information on the effect given in practice to section 4 of the Act of 12 June 1965 on collective labour agreements which provides that "any collective labour agreement must provide for: ... (iii) procedures for the application of the principle of equal remuneration without any discrimination on grounds of sex".

3. The Committee notes the texts of judicial rulings supplied with the report, which give an indication of the scope attributed to the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply with future reports the texts of rulings relating to equal remuneration, as well as information on the activities of the labour inspection services (violations reported and sanctions imposed).