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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:
Article 1 of the Convention. Legislation. The Committee notes that the draft Employment Act (Amendment Bill) defines equal pay for work of equal value as meaning that “an expatriate or Zambian professional with matching qualifications holding similar roles be remunerated equitably”, which is narrower than the concept of “equal remuneration for work of equal value” set out in Article 1(b) of the Convention. Moreover, the definition does not address equal remuneration between men and women, which is often where disparity or inequality in wages can be found. The Committee further notes the Government’s statement that the review of the Employment Act, Cap 268, will incorporate the principle of equal remuneration. The Committee refers to its 2006 general observation, and it hopes that the new provisions of the Employment Act, Cap 268, will specifically guarantee equal remuneration between men and women for work of equal value. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the progress made in reviewing the Employment Act in this respect.
Analysing the gender wage gap. The Committee notes with interest that, in 2007, the Labour Statistical Office published its first Labour Force Survey Report (LFS–2005) in almost 20 years. The Committee notes that the survey contains detailed sex-disaggregated data on employment, unemployment, underemployment and levels of income and earnings. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that it has planned to undertake a comprehensive wages survey as a way of strengthening the Labour Market Information System. The Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts in collecting data on employment and earnings that are disaggregated by sex. It trusts that the forthcoming wages survey will allow for an assessment of the gender wage gap in the various industries, sectors and occupations. Please provide a copy of the survey when finalized.
Earnings differentials between men and women. The Committee notes from the Labour Force Survey that significant differences in earnings exist between men and women with, in 2005, men earning almost twice as much as women. The results show that the agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries, which is the only sector where women predominate (52.3 per cent), has the lowest-paid occupations and the highest proportion of workers in the lowest earnings group. One-fifth is reported to have no income at all. The results also indicate large differences in earnings between men and women within the energy industry and in managerial occupations. For example, in rural areas, male managers and administrators earned three times more than their female counterparts. Furthermore, average earnings of men were two times higher than those of women among those who worked an average of 40–49 hours per week; this group is also the highest earnings group in terms of hours of work. The Committee further notes from the Government’s report that the National Gender Policy envisages measures aimed at: (a) removing barriers that prevent women’s effective participation in formal and informal employment; (b) ensuring equal employment opportunities in all sectors of the economy; and (c) devising mechanisms to ensure equal access of women to effective skills training, retraining and counselling and placement services that are inclined to stereotyped employment perceived to be only suitable to women. The Committee asks the Government as follows: (i) to determine the reasons for the differences in earnings between men and women and to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to address any of the causes identified; and (ii) to indicate how any of the measures taken or envisaged under the National Gender Policy are helping, or have helped, to reduce differences in remuneration between men and women.
The Committee notes the adoption of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act, No. 9 of 2006, which establishes the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission and which includes the promotion of gender equality among its main objectives. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on any measures taken by the Citizens Economic Empowerment Committee to promote the provisions of the Convention. For a detailed examination of the Act, the Committee refers to its comments on the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111).
Collective agreements. The Committee notes the collective agreements, including the wage scales, attached to the Government’s report, which have been concluded for the public health sector, the building and engineering sector, the security services sector, the financial institutions and the mining sector. The Committee asks the Government to provide information, where available, on the distribution of men and women in the different grades and wages scales covered by these agreements.
1. Article 2 of the Convention. Application in practice. The Committee recalls the comments made by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) of 23 October 2002 stating that women are disadvantaged in terms of remuneration and that de facto inequalities exist with regard to credit facilities which require husbands to co-sign for their wives’ credit applications. In its report, the Government contests the allegation that women were disadvantaged in terms of remuneration, indicating that conditions of service apply equally to men and women. With regard to access to credit facilities, the Government states that a co-signature of the husband was required only where property jointly owned by the spouses was to serve as a security for the credit. While noting this information, the Committee nevertheless encourages the Government, in cooperation with social partners, to take measures to promote the practical application of the Convention, including through awareness-raising and training activities concerning the meaning and implications of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. Please provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to this end and also indicate whether any specific measures to promote equal remuneration are envisaged under the National Gender Policy, such as the promotion of objective job evaluation. Further, the Committee asks the Government to indicate whether the competent authorities have dealt with any complaints concerning unequal remuneration for men and women.
2. Collective agreements. The Committee notes that examples of collective agreements referred to in the Government’s report were not attached. It asks the Government to provide these collective agreements with its next report.
3. Statistical information. The Committee notes that the Government undertook a labour force survey in 2005 and that a labour market information system was being established. The Committee asks the Government to ensure that the data concerning earnings available through the information system is disaggregated by sex and that it allows for an assessment of the gender pay gap in the different sectors, industries and occupations. Please provide information on the progress made in establishing the labour market information system and provide, as soon as possible, detailed information on the earnings of men and women, as far as possible in accordance with the Committee’s 1998 general observation on this Convention.
The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report again contains no reply to its previous comments. It hopes that the Government’s next report will include full information on the matters raised in the previous direct request, which reads in relevant parts as follows:
1. Article 2 of the Convention. Application in practice in the private sector. The Committee notes the comments made by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) of 23 October 2002 stating that women are disadvantaged in terms of remuneration and that de facto inequalities exist with regard to access to credit facilities which require husbands to co-sign for their wives’ credit applications. Noting the absence of a reply by the Government on these matters, the Committee asks the Government to provide this information in its next report. […]
2. Article 2. Application of the principle by collective agreements. The Committee asks the Government to continue transmitting the texts of collective agreements covering the various sectors and to supply a copy of the collective agreement from the National Pension Scheme Authority, which it referred to as being attached to its report, but which was not received by the Office.
3. Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that various policies in the fields of education and vocational training have been adopted to promote the employment of women workers in occupations typically dominated by men, such as engineering, motor mechanics, electronic and civil engineering. The Committee therefore once again asks the Government to provide in its next report more detailed information on the specific measures adopted to promote women’s access to vocational training, guidance and counselling and in addition to provide information on any measures that have been taken to promote women workers into decision-making and supervisory positions generally.
4. Part V of the report form. Statistics. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to keep it informed of any developments respecting the establishment of a labour market information system and to provide any available documentation in this respect. The Committee also reiterates its request for the Government to provide statistical information in its next report, if available, on the average wages in the different sectors of the economy, including the mining industry, disaggregated by sex and by occupational category. In this regard, the Committee refers the Government to the general observation of 1998 on this Convention.
The Committee trusts that the Government will make every effort to provide the information requested with its next report.
1. Article 2 of the Convention. Application in practice in the private sector. The Committee notes the comments made by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) of 23 October 2002 stating that women are disadvantaged in terms of remuneration and that de facto inequalities exist with regard to access to credit facilities which require husbands to co-sign for their wives’ credit applications. Noting the absence of a reply by the Government on these matters, the Committee asks the Government to provide this information in its next report.
2. The Committee notes with some regret that the Government’s report repeats word for word the information provided by the Government in its previous report. The Committee, therefore, must repeat its previous comments which read in the relevant parts as follows:
Article 2. Application of the principle by collective agreements. The Committee asks the Government to continue transmitting the texts of collective agreements covering the various sectors and to supply a copy of the collective agreement from the National Pension Scheme Authority, which it referred to as being attached to its report, but which was not received by the Office […].
Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that various policies in the fields of education and vocational training have been adopted to promote the employment of women workers in occupations typically dominated by men, such as engineering, motor mechanics, electronic and civil engineering. The Committee therefore once again asks the Government to provide in its next report more detailed information on the specific measures adopted to promote women’s access to vocational training, guidance and counselling and in addition to provide information on any measures that have been taken to promote women workers into decision-making and supervisory positions generally.
Part V of the report form. Statistics. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to keep it informed of any developments respecting the establishment of a labour market information system and to provide any available documentation in this respect. The Committee also reiterates its request for the Government to provide statistical information in its next report, if available, on the average wages in the different sectors of the economy, including the mining industry, disaggregated by sex and by occupational category. In this regard, the Committee refers the Government to the general observation of 1998 on this Convention.
1. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s statement in its report that the allowances provided for in Statutory Instruments Nos. 119 and 120 of 1997 apply equally to both men and women workers. Noting that housing allowances are now a subject for negotiation between the employer and the employees or their trade union, the Committee trusts the Government will undertake to ensure that no differences based on sex in relation to housing or other allowances are permitted to be introduced or applied through such agreements. 2. The Committee asks the Government to continue transmitting the texts of collective agreements covering the various sectors and to supply a copy of the collective agreement from the National Pension Scheme Authority, which it referred to as being attached to its report, but which was not received by the Office. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the future collective agreement between Zambia Oxygen and the National Union of Building Engineering and General Workers will be revised and will state that survival benefits apply to all workers irrespective of sex. It asks the Government to provide a copy of the amended collective agreement with its next report. 3. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that various policies in the fields of education and vocational training have been adopted to promote the employment of women workers in occupations typically dominated by men, such as engineering, motor mechanics, electronic and civil engineering. The Committee therefore once again asks the Government to provide in its next report more detailed information on the specific measures adopted to promote women’s access to vocational training, guidance and counselling and in addition to provide information on any measures that have been taken to promote women workers into decision-making and supervisorial positions generally. 4. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to keep it informed of any developments respecting the establishment of a labour market information system and to provide any available documentation in this respect. The Committee also reiterates its request for the Government to provide statistical information in its next report, if available, on the average wages in the different sectors of the economy, including the mining industry, disaggregated by sex and by occupational category. In this regard, the Committee refers the Government to the general observation of 1998 on this Convention.
1. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s statement in its report that the allowances provided for in Statutory Instruments Nos. 119 and 120 of 1997 apply equally to both men and women workers. Noting that housing allowances are now a subject for negotiation between the employer and the employees or their trade union, the Committee trusts the Government will undertake to ensure that no differences based on sex in relation to housing or other allowances are permitted to be introduced or applied through such agreements.
2. The Committee asks the Government to continue transmitting the texts of collective agreements covering the various sectors and to supply a copy of the collective agreement from the National Pension Scheme Authority, which it referred to as being attached to its report, but which was not received by the Office. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the future collective agreement between Zambia Oxygen and the National Union of Building Engineering and General Workers will be revised and will state that survival benefits apply to all workers irrespective of sex. It asks the Government to provide a copy of the amended collective agreement with its next report.
3. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that various policies in the fields of education and vocational training have been adopted to promote the employment of women workers in occupations typically dominated by men, such as engineering, motor mechanics, electronic and civil engineering. The Committee therefore once again asks the Government to provide in its next report more detailed information on the specific measures adopted to promote women’s access to vocational training, guidance and counselling and in addition to provide information on any measures that have been taken to promote women workers into decision-making and supervisorial positions generally.
4. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to keep it informed of any developments respecting the establishment of a labour market information system and to provide any available documentation in this respect. The Committee also reiterates its request for the Government to provide statistical information in its next report, if available, on the average wages in the different sectors of the economy, including the mining industry, disaggregated by sex and by occupational category. In this regard, the Committee refers the Government to the general observation of 1998 on this Convention.
The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report and the attached documentation.
The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government as well as the attached documentation, collective agreements and statistical information.
1. The Committee notes the information on the determination of rates of remuneration and, in particular, the general Statutory Instrument (general) No. 119 and the Statutory Instrument (shop workers) No. 120 of 1997 concerning the minimum wages and conditions of employment. It notes with interest that the clauses relating to the payment of employment-related benefits contained in these statutory instruments are drawn up in terms which are not prejudicial to the persons concerned on the grounds of sex. The Committee, however, wishes to draw the Government's attention to section 14 of Statutory Instrument No. 119 concerning transport allowances and section 16 of Statutory Instrument No. 120 concerning repatriation allowances, which may be interpreted in a way that such allowances are given only to male employees. The Committee refers to its previous comments regarding the use of gender-neutral terms in collective agreements, and requests the Government to indicate whether the abovementioned allowances are granted to both male and female employees covered by the respective statutory instruments.
2. Concerning the payment of housing allowances, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government that the law on the matter has been altered and that the terms of the new text do not take into consideration the sex of the workers concerned. The Committee also notes the Government's statement that in dealing with collective agreements, it is ensuring that no discrimination of any kind, particularly on the basis of sex is entertained. It draws the Government's attention to clause 17.2 of the collective agreement concluded between Mpongwe Development Company Limited and the National Union of Plantation Agricultural Workers of the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions on Conditions of Employment (1998-2000) on housing allowances, which provides that "married female employees living with their working or housed husband or whose husband is in receipt of a housing allowance will not be entitled to housing or a housing allowance". The Committee recalls that section 108 of the Industrial and Labour Relations Act, 1993 (Act No. 27 of 1993) prohibits the imposition of any penalty or disadvantage on employees on the grounds of, among others, sex and marital status. The Committee would like the Government to clarify whether or not married male employees still receive a housing allowance if their wife is working or is in receipt of such an allowance. It further requests the Government to indicate the measures that have been taken to ensure that housing benefits are granted under conditions which are not based on the sex of the employee.
3. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government's statement that the collective agreement concluded for the period 1 August 1996 to 31 July 1998 between the Zambia Bankers (Employers) Association and the Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers has been dissolved, and that presently employers in the financial sector have individual collective agreements. In this regard, the Committee notes with interest that the attached collective agreements concluded for this sector do not contain any clauses granting benefits that differentiate on the basis of sex. It requests the Government to continue to transmit the texts of collective agreements covering the various sectors.
4. With regard to the collective agreements concluded by the enterprise "Zambia Textiles Limited" with the National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers and "Zambia Oxygen Limited" and the National Union of Building, Engineering and General Workers, which grant certain survival benefits (special leave and cash, repatriation, ...) only to male employees, whose spouse, parent or child dies, or to the dependants of a male employee who has died, the Committee notes the Government's statement that in reality the surviving spouse is granted these benefits regardless of the sex of the worker. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures that have been taken to promote conformity of the above collective agreements (with the Convention and national legislation), as regards the granting of benefits without taking into consideration the sex of the workers concerned.
5. The Committee notes from the statistics compiled by Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) on the distribution of men and women by skill category as of May 1996, that the very small proportion of women working in the sector are mainly employed at the professional level. The statistics also show that no women are employed at the managerial level and no male employees are working in the secretarial skill category. The Committee wishes to draw the Government's attention to the fact that the situation of women in the labour market, and in particular their concentration in so-called female sectors and occupations, is one of the origins of inequalities in remuneration between men and women. In this connection, the Committee refers to paragraph 6 of the Equal Remuneration Recommendation, 1951 (No. 90) which calls for a variety of measures to raise the productive efficiency of women as a means to facilitate the application of the principle of equal remuneration. The Committee notes the Government's statement that in terms of vocational training, vocational guidance and counselling, it is the policy to encourage more and more women to take advantage of the facilities available as a way of raising their productive efficiency. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the specific measures taken to increase access of women to vocational training and guidance and counselling as a means to narrow the wage gap between men and women. It would also be grateful if the Government could provide statistical information, if available, on the average wages in the different sectors of the economy, including the mining industry, disaggregated by sex and by occupational category.
6. The Committee notes the Government's statement that work with regard to the establishment of a labour market information system is in progress (with possible assistance of the ILO and the World Bank). The Committee refers to its general observation of 1998 on this Convention which underlines the importance of statistical data to assist the Committee in evaluating the application of the Convention, and requests the Government to keep it informed of any further developments in this regard.
The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government, particularly on the methods of determining rates of remuneration, as well as the attached documentation and the information on labour inspection contained in the annual reports of the Department of Labour, in reply to its previous comments.
1. The Committee notes the information that Statutory Instrument No. 61 of 1990 (to which reference was made in its previous observation) has been repealed and replaced by Statutory Instrument No. 140 of 1993, under the terms of which the issue of the payment of housing allowances is no longer prescribed by the Government, but is determined by the social partners. While noting this transfer of responsibility, the Committee trusts that the Government, when exercising its control over the legality of the content of collective agreements under the terms of section 71(2) of the Industrial and Labour Relations Act of 1993, will endeavour in particular to ensure that the clauses relating to the payment of housing allowance (and more generally of other benefits) are drawn up in terms which are not prejudicial to the persons concerned on the grounds of their sex. The Committee requests the Government to transmit the text of Statutory Instrument No. 140 of 1993, which it states was attached to its report, but which has not been received.
2. The Committee notes with interest that the new collective agreement concluded for the period 1 August 1996 to 31 July 1998 between the Zambia Bankers (Employers) Association and the Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers abolishes former clause 19, which provided that a "married male employee in group 1 shall receive a marriage allowance of K20 a month upon production of a satisfactory documentary proof of marriage", which was in violation of both section 108 of the Industrial and Labour Relations Act, 1993, and the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value, set out in the Convention. The Committee also notes the Government's statement that it is ensuring that no collective agreements award marriage allowances or any other benefits that differentiate on the basis of sex.
3. With regard to the collective agreement concluded by the enterprise "Zambia Textiles Limited" with the National Union of Commercial and Industrial Workers, the Committee notes that in clause 21(3)(1) of this agreement it is provided that in the event of the death of a legal wife, mother, father and a child below the age of 18 years, the employee benefits from special leave with remuneration of two weeks and a loan; furthermore, under the terms of clause 22(2), the employee also benefits from financial assistance from the enterprise (purchase of a coffin, transport expenses, financial assistance, firewood, etc.). In the same way, the Committee draws the Government's attention to clause 6(08) of the collective agreement concluded between the company "Zambia Oxygen Limited" and the National Union of Building, Engineering and General Workers, which provides that in the event of the death of an employee, his wife and children under the age of 18 years shall be entitled to repatriation. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures that have been taken to ensure that these benefits are granted under conditions which do not discriminate as to the sex of the employees, that is to female employees whose spouse, parent or dependent child dies or to the dependants of a female employee who dies. In more general terms, the Committee reminds the Government that such discrimination could be avoided by the systematic use of terms which do not discriminate on the grounds of the sex of the worker concerned (General Survey of 1986 on equal remuneration, paragraph 240). Recalling that section 108 of the Industrial and Labour Relations Act, 1993 (Act No. 27 of 1993) prohibits the imposition of any penalty or disadvantage on employees on the grounds of sex and marital status, among others, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures that have been taken to guarantee the conformity of the above collective agreements, as regards the granting of benefits without taking into consideration the sex of the workers concerned, in respect of the Convention and the above national labour legislation. Finally, the Committee requests the Government to continue transmitting the texts of collective agreements covering the various sectors.
4. The Committee notes that the statistics on the distribution of women and men in the classifications compiled by the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) were not received with the report. It therefore requests the Government to transmit them with its next report.
5. The Committee notes the Government's statement that the Organization and Methods Office of the Public Service (also called the Permanent Job Evaluation Office), the function of which is to provide advice to management on the economically efficient and effective use of human and material resources, does not play a role in the application of the principle of equal remuneration, responsibility for which lies with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. In this respect, the Committee once again draws the Government's attention to paragraph 6 of the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 90), which suggests various measures to raise the productive efficiency of women as a means of facilitating the application of the principle contained in the Convention.
6. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the difficulties encountered by many governments in the application of the Convention appeared to be caused by a number of factors, including a lack of knowledge of the true situation due to the unavailability or inadequacy of data and research in this field. It also reminded the Government that it could obtain the advice and technical assistance of the ILO in order to document more exactly the nature and extent of existing inequalities and devise measures to eliminate them. The Committee therefore notes with interest that the Government has contacted the ILO and the World Bank with a view to establishing a labour market information system, and it would be grateful to be kept informed of the result of these contacts.
The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report and attached documentation in response to the Committee's previous comments.
1. Referring to its observation, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the action taken to ensure the application of section 7 of the Employment Regulations, as amended by Statutory Instrument No. 61 of 1990.
2. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes that the copy of the Memorandum of Collective Agreement between the Zambia Bankers (Employers) Association and the Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers (published in the Government Gazette, Vol. XXV, No. 64 of 29 May 1989) forwarded by the Government with the present report - which appears to have replaced the terms of an earlier agreement published as Gazette Notice No. 376 of 1989 - still provides in clause 19 that a "married male employee in group 1 shall receive a marriage allowance of K20 a month upon production of a satisfactory documentary proof of marriage". The Committee further notes that while the above-mentioned agreement was due to remain in force from 1 January 1989 until 31 December 1990, the Memorandum sets out conditions for its continuance beyond that period (paragraphs (b), (c) and (e) of the preamble). In case the agreement has continued in force, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the action taken to ensure that the marriage allowance granted under clause 19 of this agreement is payable under the gender-neutral terms required by the Convention. In this regard, the Committee has noted with interest that section 108 of the Industrial and Labour Relations Act, 1993 (Act No. 27 of 1993), proscribes the imposition of any penalty or disadvantage on employees on the grounds of sex and marital status, among others. Accordingly, the Committee also requests the Government to indicate the action taken to ensure compliance both with the Convention and with the above-mentioned national labour legislation of all other collective agreements which award marriage allowances or any other benefits that differentiate on the basis of sex.
3. The Committee requests the Government to provide copies of recent collective agreements (concluded in a number of different industries) that have been registered under the provisions of the Industrial and Labour Relations Act, 1993.
4. The Committee notes that an evaluation of jobs carried out in the "ZCCM" by the Copper Industry Services Board was undertaken with a view to place and pay employees according to the value of their work, irrespective of sex. It hopes that the Government will be able to provide information in its next report concerning the distribution of women and men in the classifications determined through this evaluation.
5. Noting from the report that the principal function of the Organization and Methods Office of the public service is to provide advice to management on the economically efficient and effective use of human and material resources, the Committee requests the Government to indicate whether that Office therefore plays a role in ensuring the application of the principle of the Convention. In this regard, the Committee refers the Government to Paragraph 6 of the Equal Remuneration Recommendation (No. 90), 1951, which suggests various measures to raise the productive efficiency of women as a means of facilitating the application of the principle of the Convention.
6. While appreciating that limited financial and human resources have curtailed activities to assess the application of the Convention (as might be done through studies or by the systematic collection and analysis of statistical data), the Committee remarked - in its 1990 General Observation - upon the difficulties encountered by governments in applying the Convention when they lack knowledge of the true situation due to the unavailability or inadequacy of data and research. It also reminded governments on that occasion of the possibility of obtaining the advice and assistance of the International Labour Office in regard to documenting the nature and extent of existing inequalities and to devising measures to remedy any problems. In the light of these considerations, the Committee hopes that the Government will consider taking action, in collaboration with employers' and workers' organizations, to ascertain the extent to which the Convention is being implemented in practice.
7. The Committee hopes that the Government will supply copies of those annual reports (for the years 1988 to 1991) of the Department of Labour which, at the time of reporting, were being printed together with any others available; and that full information will be provided on the measures taken by labour inspectors to ensure the application of the Convention.
The Committee notes with interest that section 7(2) of the Employment Regulations, 1966, which relieved employers of the obligation of providing housing or paying a rent allowance in respect of married employees living with their husbands, has been amended by the Employment (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 1990 (Statutory Instrument No. 61 of 1990). The amended section is drafted in a gender-neutral way, providing that in the case of a married couple in employment, only one spouse, as the couple may decide, shall be provided with housing and an employer shall pay a rent allowance to the spouse who is not provided with housing.
With reference to its previous direct requests, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report.
1. The Committee notes the Government's statement to the effect that a new collective agreement recently concluded between the Zambia Bankers (Employers) Association and the Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers, which is valid for the period 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1990, cancels the marriage allowance paid to married male employees in group I. Since this document was not attached to the report, the Committee requests the Government to supply a copy of it with its next report.
2. The Committee notes the statistics supplied by the Government concerning job evaluations carried out in 1990 in a number of divisions and units of the "ZCCM" by the Copper Industry Services Bureau. The Committee requests the Government to state whether these evaluations were undertaken with the intention of applying the principle set out in the Convention and, if so, to supply information on the criteria used for the evaluations. It would be grateful if the Government would supply information on the number and nature of the jobs held by women in the units of the "ZCCM" with an indication of the distribution of men and women employed at different levels. It once again requests the Government to include in its next report a description of the activities of the Organization and Methods Office in the public service, and the Management Services Board for the evaluation of jobs according to the principle set out in the Convention.
3. The Committee also requests the Government to supply full particulars in its next report concerning the application in practice of the Convention, including: (i) the salary scales applicable in the public sector, under the general conditions of service of the public service and the specific conditions of service of public and semi-public administrations, with an indication of the percentage of men and women employed at different levels; (ii) statistical data concerning the wage rates and average actual earnings of men and women established by collective agreements, broken down, if possible, by occupation, branch of activity, seniority and level of qualifications, as well as information on the corresponding percentage of women; and (iii) information concerning any surveys or studies undertaken or contemplated with a view to determining the reasons for wage disparities, as well as the measures taken or envisaged as follow-up to these studies.
4. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information on the measures taken by labour inspectors to ensure or promote the application of the Convention and to attach a copy of the Department of Labour's annual report.
5. The Committee notes that the new Industrial Relations Act of 23 January 1991 makes it compulsory to inform works councils of decisions taken by employers affecting, inter alia, job evaluation (section 106) and gives them the right of veto over certain decisions (the recruitment of new employees and the assessment of their salaries and the payment of bonuses and incentives: section 107). The Committee requests the Government to inform it of any cases in which the problem of the application in practice of these provisions has already arisen.
The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report and the documentation annexed thereto.
1. The Committee notes the texts of several collective agreements annexed to the Government's report. It notes that section 19 of the joint Council Collective Agreement between the Zambia Bankers (Employers) Association and the Zambia Union of Financial Institutions and Allied Workers for the period 1 January 1989 to 31 December 1990 provides that a marriage allowance shall be paid to married male employees in group 1. The Committee requests the Government to supply information in its next report on the measures taken or contemplated to apply the principle of equal remuneration in this respect to men and women workers under the above-mentioned collective agreement.
2. The Committee notes that section 15 of the Minimum Wages and Conditions of Employment (Shop Workers) Order, 1989 provides that retirement benefits shall be granted to women as from the age of 50 years and to men from the age of 55 years. Please indicate what measures may be contemplated to bring these provisions into conformity with the principle of the Convention.
3. The Committee notes from the Government's report that in government service there is a permanent job evaluation office known as the Organisation and Methods Office; that other sectors are served by the Management Services Board and the Copper Industry Services Bureau; and that job evaluation is an ongoing exercise in both the public and the private sectors. It requests the Government to include in its next report detailed information on the activities of the Organisation and Methods Office, the Management Services Board, and the Copper Industry Services Bureau, and to provide examples of job classification schemes for sectors employing a large number of women.
4. The Committee notes that no cases of discrimination in remuneration on the basis of sex were detected by the inspectorate during the period under review. It requests the Government to continue to supply information on action taken by labour inspectors to ensure the application of the Convention, and to include a copy of the Department of Labour Annual Reports. The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would communicate in its next report any available statistics of wages of men and women, respectively, in different jobs and at different grades, along with an indication of jobs in which women form a high proportion of the workforce.