Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 1990, publiée 77ème session CIT (1990)

1. The Committee notes the Government's reply to its previous comments. It notes the explanations provided concerning the significance of the terms "adapted to their social responsibility" which appear in article 82, paragraph 1 of the Political Constitution of 1987, following the terms "equal wages for equal work in identical conditions". The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of any development, and in particular any judicial decision that specifies the scope of these terms.

2. In its previous comments, the Committee also pointed out that the principle of equal remuneration, as set out in the Constitution, appears to be narrower in scope than the principle set out in the Convention, which refers to equal remuneration for work "of equal value". (Please see in this connection the explanations given in paragraphs 52 to 70 of the 1986 General Survey on Equal Remuneration.) Nevertheless, the Committee noted that, according to the Government's statements, the reference to equal work in identical conditions is interpreted in practice as applying to work of equal value and that a classification of jobs is being established with the participation of the trade unions concerned based on an appraisal of the jobs.

The Committee once again requests the Government to indicate the progress that has been achieved in this connection and to supply a copy of the new job classification and the wage rates applicable to them. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the methods and criteria used to establish this new classification, and on how the application of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value is ensured in practice for wages that are higher than the minimum rate, such as wages fixed by individual contracts or collective agreements, particularly in sectors employing a large proportion of women, including the public administration. Please also supply copies of some of the most recent collective agreements.