CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's reports.

1. The Committee recalls that, in response to a request of the Government for assistance in implementing the Convention, missions were undertaken in 1991 and in 1992 by officials of the International Labour Office. The Committee notes with satisfaction that the sex-based wage differentials in the collective agreements for the printing industry, the electrical contractors industry and the leather (luggage) industry were eliminated in the 1992-93 bargaining round, and that this equality has been maintained in the 1994-95 round of negotiations. The Committee also notes with interest that considerable progress was made towards eliminating wage discrimination on the basis of sex in the clothing and metal goods industries during the 1995 round of negotiations for the 1995-1997 (three-year) collective agreements concluded for those industries. In both of these industries, workers are now classified by skill and job type and the minimum pay rates and pay increases are specified without reference to the sex of the worker. As concerns other industries (footwear, soft drinks, construction and woodworking industries), the Committee notes with interest from the Government's report that some progress has been made towards eliminating wage discrimination. The Committee is particularly encouraged that progress has been made in spite of increasing economic problems which have caused a relatively low rate of improvement in the conditions of work. It hopes that the Government will continue to provide information on further developments in these sectors.

2. The Committee notes that the Tripartite Labour Advisory Board reviewed, in a general discussion, the recommendations made by the Office following the above-mentioned missions and set up, in February 1994, a tripartite technical committee to study them in detail, as well as the proposals submitted by the employers' and workers' organizations at the Board's general discussion. The Board examined the report of the technical committee in December 1995 and decided that further consultations, chaired by the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, should take place between the social partners concerning the practical measures to be taken to implement further the Convention. The Committee hopes that the Government will be in a position to furnish details in its next report on the strategies determined through these consultations.

3. The Committee notes from the statistical data supplied that even though the wage differential between men and women is still high, it has been narrowing continuously. Please continue to furnish statistical data illustrating the wage gap in future reports.