Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to previous comments. It hopes that the next report will include full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes from the report, the creation under the Labour Act, 1992, of  three new minimum wage fixing committees regulating minimum wages in three sectors: tea plantation, agriculture and manufacturing. The Committee also notes from the Government’s report that the Ministry of Labour and Transport is endeavouring to strengthen the labour administration in order to monitor and supervise the implementation of the Convention. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to supply more information on the implementation and supervision of the minimum wages machinery in practice and once again requests copies of documents pertaining to the wage-fixing committees, including any rules, orders or administrative instructions concerning wages, together with copies of the specific instruments fixing the minimum wages in the different sectors.

2. In this respect, the Committee recalls once again that the principle of equal remuneration set out in the Convention covers situations in which women and men carry out different work which is of equal value. In this respect, the Committee notes once again that section 11 of the 1993 Labour Rules provide for equal remuneration for men and women workers "for the work similar or of the same nature". In these circumstances, the Committee reiterates its request to the Government to supply information in its next report on the means by which the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value is applied in situations where women and men carry out different work which is of equal value. Furthermore, the Committee reiterates its request to the Government to supply in its next report information on any measures taken to ensure the application of the principle of equal remuneration in the Convention to all employment-related benefits, including allowances.

3. With reference to the allegations made by the General Federation of Nepalese Trade Unions (GEFONT) concerning wage discrimination, the Committee notes the Government’s statement in its report to the effect that it has issued instructions for the abolition of the alleged wage discrimination. The Committee asks the Government to supply a copy of these instructions with its next report, as well as any information available on developments in the situation regarding the alleged wage discrimination.

4. The Committee also wishes to reiterate its request for copies of the studies and surveys that, according to the information provided by the Government to the Conference Committee in 1997, had been undertaken to ascertain whether wage discrimination based on sex existed in privately owned tea plantations.

5. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the Central Bureau of Statistics is collecting statistical information disaggregated by sex. In this respect and with reference to its general observation of 1998, the Committee asks the Government to provide with its next report any statistical data available relating to the remuneration rates of women and men workers at the various levels.