Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

Further to its observation, the Committee notes the Government’s brief report in reply to its previous comments and the document attached. It asks the Government to provide information on the following points.

1. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the information provided by the Government indicating that the disparity in wage levels between men and women in the public service is due to the fact that men occupy positions of a higher level with higher remuneration. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that it is in the process of establishing labour information systems which will provide disaggregated information on any programme undertaken in the public service. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide practical information in its next report on the manner in which the above programmes help to eliminate this type of vertical discrimination against women.

2. With reference to the methods used for the objective appraisal of jobs, the Government indicated in its previous report that psychometric tests are undertaken through the General Directorate of Employment, for all jobseekers to determine their aptitudes. The Committee reminds the Government that the methods of objective appraisal referred to by the Convention are related to jobs and not jobseekers. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its last report that it is currently introducing labour information systems which will provide disaggregated information on criteria used for the classification of the various jobs in the public sector. As emphasized by the Committee in paragraph 255 of its General Survey of 1986 on equal remuneration as it may be necessary, with a view to applying the principle set out in the Convention, to compare jobs which may be of a different nature in terms of equal value, it is important that there exist methods and procedures of easy use and ready access, capable of ensuring that the criterion of sex is not directly or indirectly taken into account in the comparison. By way of illustration, in paragraph 60 of its 1986 General Survey, the Committee referred to a number of the criteria which are most frequently referred to in the various national legislations on equal remuneration for the purposes of comparing the work to be carried out by men and women. These include skills, responsibility and the effort (physical or mental) required to carry out the work, and the conditions under which it is to be performed. The Committee trusts that the Government will provide information in its next report on any measures adopted concerning the use of methodologies for the appraisal of jobs with a view to the correct application of Article 3, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the Convention.

3. The Committee notes that the Government did not include in its report statistical information on the remuneration received in both the public and private sectors, disaggregated by sex, and according to the various levels and occupations. The Committee reminds the Government that such data are essential to enable it to undertake a proper examination of the application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would make the necessary efforts to provide statistical information as indicated in its general observation of 1998. Please also ensure that the information reflects the distribution and remuneration of men and women workers in the various jobs and levels of enterprises in the export processing sector.

4. The Committee reminds the Government that it can ask the Office for technical advice and assistance on how to bring its legislation into conformity with the principle set out in the Convention, for the adoption of methodologies for the objective appraisal of jobs and for the implementation of a system for the compilation of statistics disaggregated by sex.