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The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report and the statistical tables attached.

1. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that, although the draft Labour Code has not yet been submitted to the legislature for approval, the Committee’s previous comments on the draft Labour Code have been communicated to those responsible for its formulation. In this regard the Committee trusts that the draft Code will clearly set out the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value, and will also allow for comparison of pay on as wide a basis as possible to avoid the under-valuation of pay levels in female-dominated industries where remuneration levels tend to be low. Noting that the Government has not provided a copy of the most recent version of the draft Code, as per its previous request, the Committee again asks the Government to provide a copy of the Code in its next report.

2. The Committee notes that the Ministerial Order establishing the National Council of Wages has yet to be promulgated. It asks the Government to supply a copy of the Ministerial Order upon its promulgation. The Committee notes the Government’s response to its previous request for information on how the principle of equal remuneration is applied to wages in excess of the minimum wage, including the criteria and methodology used in the appraisal of jobs. The Committee particularly notes that the Government is undertaking a classification of jobs, based on an objective evaluation of what the job entails, and that this measure is being carried out in consultation with employers’ and workers’ organizations. In this connection, the Committee draws attention to the need to ensure that the criteria for the appraisal of jobs do not undervalue the skills normally required for jobs that are in practice performed by or predominantly performed by women. In comparing the work of men and women, care should therefore be taken to balance the various job components to ensure a fair and just evaluation. The Committee therefore asks the Government to provide detailed information on the manner in which the classification of jobs is being undertaken, including the criteria to be used for job evaluation and the particulars of the consultations held with employers’ and workers’ organizations.

3. The statistical data regarding the proportion of women employees according to type of occupation for 1998 reveal that women are significantly underrepresented across all sectors of the labour market. Women comprise 24 per cent of the employees in the public sector, and 19 per cent of the entire labour force. In this regard, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on the measures taken or contemplated to ensure the increased participation of women in the public service and to promote their entry into the labour force overall. The Committee further notes that the data provided do not indicate the types of occupations for which information has been compiled; nor do they include the levels of remuneration for women and men. Consequently, the Committee again refers to its general observation of 1998 under this Convention and asks the Government to include, in its next report, the necessary up-to-date information for both the private and public sectors to enable it to assess the application in practice of the Convention.

4. The Committee notes the copy of the recommendations issued by the Conference on Women Workers and Social Challenges attached to the Government’s report. Among the recommendations are a number of suggested measures to promote the employment situation of women, including the provision of necessary services to working women, especially those services relating to nurseries, childcare facilities and family planning; the implementation of training programmes aimed at raising women’s capacity and efficiency in order to increase the job opportunities available to them; and promoting the membership of working women in trade unions. The Committee asks the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged, on the basis of the Conference recommendations, to promote the application of the Convention. Further, the Committee notes that the study conducted by the Arab Centre for Research and Studies which it had previously requested is still not available. It asks the Government to provide a copy of the study when it is made available by the competent authority.