Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2009, publiée 99ème session CIT (2010)

Training and awareness raising. In its previous observation, the Committee asked the Government to provide information on any measures taken to promote awareness and understanding of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value as set out in the Convention and section 5(4) of the Labour Act, among relevant target groups, including labour inspectors. In its report, the Government provides information on a number of activities and projects aimed at the promotion of gender equality more generally and greater access to employment for women. However, the information does not indicate whether any specific activities were undertaken to promote understanding and awareness of the principles of the Convention. In this context, the Committee notes that according to the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-IS), inadequate supervision by the labour administration is one of the reasons for unequal pay between men and women. The Committee hopes that the Government, in consultation with the workers’ and employers’ organizations, will carry out training and awareness-raising activities specifically addressing equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value among relevant target groups, including labour inspectors, and asks it to provide information on the measures taken in this regard.

Labour inspection. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that there is currently no system for classifying infringements identified by the labour inspectorate according to the related provisions of the labour legislation. However, it indicates that a new system is to be established allowing for such a classification. The Committee welcomes this information and hopes that the new system will allow the labour inspectors to establish data on the number, nature and outcome of infringements of section 5(4) with regard to equal remuneration of men and women for work of equal value. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the number, nature and outcomes of the cases addressed by the labour inspectorate under section 5(4) of the Labour Code, as soon as possible.

Article 3 of the Convention. Objective job evaluation. The Committee notes that the Government has provided no information in reply to its previous comments on the issue of objective job evaluation. However, it welcomes the information provided by the Turkish Confederation of Employers’ Associations (TISK) on the use of objective job evaluation systems by its affiliates. For instance, the Metal Industry Job Classification System (MIDS) examines jobs on the basis of twelve factors which are classified under four main factors, namely dexterity, responsibility, effort and working conditions. In 2007, the Union of Turkish Metal Industrialists organized seminars for heads of human resources departments in four cities with a view to making the MIDS known, and assessing problems in its application and possible solutions to them. The Committee asks the Government once again to provide information on any steps it is taking to promote objective job evaluation as envisaged in Article 3 of the Convention, both in the private and public sectors, including information on any measures taken to ensure that equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value is made an explicit objective of job evaluation.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.