Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

1. Public service. The Committee notes the indications provided by the Government to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women concerning Decree No. 60-S/MFP/T regulating the remuneration and benefits of government officials which provides that, unless they are heads of the household, women must file an appeal with the courts to obtain family allowances (CEDAW/C/NER/Q/2/Add.1, 20 February 2007, page 5). The Committee notes that under the Convention any benefits, allowances or other emoluments paid in addition to the basic salary must be provided to men and women on an equal basis. Noting that the Government also indicated that the General Civil Service Statute would be revised in order to repeal provisions that discriminate against women in the civil service, the Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on the progress made in this regard, including indications on the measures taken to ensure that family allowances are available to men and women in the civil service without discrimination.

2. Minimum wages. The Committee notes Decree No. 2006-58/PRN/MFP/T of 8 March 2006, fixing a new hourly interoccupational minimum wage rate. It also notes Decree No. 2006-059/PRN/MFP/T of 8 March 2006, which fixes hourly and monthly minimum wages for different occupations. Noting that the denomination of the different occupations are mainly used in their masculine form, but in some cases also in their feminine form (e.g. “gouvernante”), the Committee asks the Government to ensure that future wage decrees refer to the different occupations and jobs in a gender-neutral manner in order to avoid stereotypes as to whether particular occupations are or should be carried out by a man or a woman. The Committee also asks the Government to provide information on the methods used to establish the wage levels for the different occupations and on the manner in which it is ensured that female-dominated occupations are not undervalued.

3. Collective agreements. The Committee recalls its previous comments concerning section 38 of the interoccupational collective agreement of 15 December 1972. In its report, the Government again states that the concept of “work of equal value” would be taken into account in the forthcoming revision of the agreement. The Government is asked to keep the Committee informed of any developments in this regard.

4. Statistical information. The Committee previously expressed the hope that the Government would make every effort to collect and provide to the Committee statistical data on the earnings of men and women. Noting that the Government was not yet able to provide such data, the Committee asks the Government to do so as soon as possible.