Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

1. Equal remuneration for work of equal value. The Committee is bound to point out that the Government’s brief report does not enable it to assess fully the application of the principle of the Convention. The Committee notes that under sections 22(2) and (3) and 25 of Organic Act No. 99-209 of 19 March 1999, New Caledonia has exercised competence since 1 January 2000 in the fields of labour law, labour inspection and the access of foreign nationals to work. The Committee therefore asks the Government to provide detailed information with its next report on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure the application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value.

2. The remuneration gap. The Committee notes from the statistical information provided by the Government that the remuneration gap between men and women is 17 per cent in the private sector and 12 per cent in the public sector, and that the remuneration gap increases to 20 per cent with respect to highly qualified workers in both the private and public sectors taken together. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing statistical information on wage levels, disaggregated by sex, so that it can evaluate adequately the nature, extent and causes of the salary differentials between men and women. The Committee also asks the Government to provide information with its next report on the number of women and men employed in the public sector by grade and rank.

3. Labour inspections. With reference to its comments under Convention No. 81, the Committee notes Decree No. 2362 of 11 October 1999 amending the Order concerning the establishment and organization of two labour inspection departments in the territory of New Caledonia. The Committee asks the Government to provide information with its next report on the activities carried out and methods used by the labour inspection services to promote and ensure compliance with the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value.