CMNT_TITLE

With reference to its previous direct requests, the Committee notes that the Government's report does not contain any new information on the effect given in practice to the principle of non-discrimination set out in the Constitution and national law, and does not provide the information that has been requested for several years on the following points.

1. With regard to the principle laid down in Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention whereby equal remuneration for men and women workers is based on work of equal value, the Committee notes the Government's statement to the effect that equal wages are paid for equal work (section 85 of the Labour Code, under which equal pay is based on "equal conditions of work, qualifications and output"). The Committee draws the Government's attention to the terms of the Convention which bases the comparison of wages on the value of the work, and to Article 3 of the Convention which proposes a system of objective appraisal of jobs on the basis of the work to be performed (see in this regard paragraphs 19 to 23 of the 1986 General Survey on Equal Remuneration). The Committee requests the Government to re-examine the situation in the light of the above comments, in order to take account of the value of work in observing the principle of equal remuneration, and to keep it informed of any developments in this respect.

2. The Committee notes the wage scales and the changes which have been made to them. It requests the Government to supply recent information on the wage scales which are currently applicable in the public and private sectors, with an indication of the distribution of men and women employed at the different levels.

3. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would inform it whether the inter-occupational collective agreement which has been under examination since 1987 has finally been adopted and, if so, provide a copy as soon as possible. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, two collective agreements (one governing building and public works enterprises of 1956 and the other governing mining, geological and hydro-geological enterprises and companies of 1985) contain provisions setting out the principle of "equal wages for equal work". The Committee requests the Government to indicate the manner in which the application is ensured of the principle of equal remuneration in the sense of the Convention, particularly where in practice men and women are employed in work of a different nature but of equal value.

The Committee hopes that the next report will provide full information in reply to this direct request.