Observación (CEACR) - Adopción: 1990, Publicación: 77ª reunión CIT (1990)

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report, which shows a slow but steady diminution of the wage differences between men and women workers, in the public sector in particular. It also notes the comments received from several workers' organisations to the effect that little or no progress has actually been achieved; and from two employers' organisations which indicate that the private sector has encountered no great difficulty in applying Act No. 609 of 1986 on Equality between Women and Men. The Committee has pursued these questions in a request addressed directly to the Government.

2. The Committee notes with interest that, in addition to a general pay rise in the public sector, the comprehensive agreement on economic and labour market policy signed on 23 August 1988 included for the first time a special "equality allowance" intended to reduce the imbalances in pay between men and women. The size of the equality allowance is determined on the basis of the predominance of female employees in each employment sector, with the decision on how it should be distributed left to each sector. The Committee notes the statement by the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (SAK) that the equality allowance is so limited in amount as to have had no significant effect on the wages imbalance between the sexes. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report whether this scheme has been continued or expanded, and on the results achieved.