Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2006, publiée 96ème session CIT (2007)

1. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that its report on the career and income situation of women and men will be integrated into the Government’s equal treatment report to Parliament. It asks the Government to provide a copy of this document with its next report.

2. Assessing the gender pay gap. The Committee thanks the Government for providing detailed statistical information concerning wages in the private and public sector in 2001. The Committee also notes that, according to data published by the Statistisches Bundesamt in March 2006, the gender remuneration gap among full-time employees in trades, commerce and the credit and insurance sector has continued to decrease, but remained at 20 per cent. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide statistical information on the earnings of men and women, as well as its assessment of the progress made in closing the gender pay gap. Noting that the data provided for the public sector allows for a comparison only between the total average earnings of men and women taken together, and women’s earnings, the Committee asks the Government to provide data that allows for a comparison between the average earnings of women and men in that sector.

3. Promoting equal pay through collective bargaining and workplace practices. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it was its objective to take all possible measures to contribute to the elimination of pay differentials between women and men. The Government also states that it could only play a supporting role, as it was the task of the collective bargaining partners to develop wage structures that satisfy the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value. In this regard, the Committee reiterates its previous request to the Government to indicate whether and to what extent wage categories for “light physical tasks” are still being used in collective agreements. The Committee also asks the Government to provide further information on:

(a)   the implementation and impact of the scheme launched in 2002 which provides assistance to employers’ organizations and trade unions, as well as individual employers and human resource managers, in the application of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value; and

(b)   the progress made in promoting equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value in the context of the review of the wage agreement applying to federal public employees.

4. Enforcement. The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no information on court decisions involving matters relating to the application of the Convention. It therefore asks the Government to provide such information with its next report.