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The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report, including the attached statistics. The Committee also notes the comments made by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) on matters related to the application of the Convention, and also the reply of the Government. Finally, the Committee notes the comments made by the Confederation of Business Chambers of Industry (CONCAMIN).

1. The Committee notes the comments of CONCAMIN to the effect that, with regard to Article 3 of the Convention, the labour authorities and the National Minimum Wage Commission, in permanent collaboration with the social partners, carry out various studies and analyses evaluating wages and remuneration systems. The Committee asks the Government to provide detailed information on the results of the above studies and analyses with its next report.

2. The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government in its last report indicating that the National Institute for Women formulated the National Programme for Equality of Opportunity and Non-Discrimination, 2001-06 (PROEQUIDAD), which guides the national policy on gender and has to be complied with by all the sectors of the Federal Public Administration (APF). The Committee also notes the Government’s reply in its report indicating that, with a view to raising awareness and improving understanding of the Convention, and to give effect to the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value, pamphlets on the labour-related rights and duties of women have been distributed and publicity has been broadcast on the right to equality of opportunity and treatment in employment. Furthermore, the Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report on the activities undertaken with employers’ and workers’ organizations, as well as with the federal labour delegations in the various states, addressing themes related to the situation and problems of women workers. The Committee asks the Government to provide information in future reports on the activities carried out within the context of the PROEQUIDAD programme, as well as those undertaken by the Government, with particular reference to those carried out jointly with employers’ and workers’ organizations, with a view to promoting and improving the participation of women in the public and private sectors and reducing vertical discrimination in employment.

3. The Committee notes that the Government does not provide up-to-date statistical information with its report on the distribution of men and women in the various sectors and at the various levels of the Federal Public Administration, or on their levels of remuneration, disaggregated by sex, as requested in its previous comment. In this respect, the Committee urged the Government in its previous comment to keep it informed of the progress achieved in implementing the Integrated System for the Administration of Human Resources (SIARH), and to provide statistical information in its next report obtained through the application of the System. The Committee notes the Government’s reply that the above System has been suspended. The Committee trusts that the Government will make every effort to ensure that the SIARH produces data in the near future on the number of men and women in the various sectors and at the different levels of the Federal Public Administration, including their ages and levels of remuneration, disaggregated by sex.

4. In its previous comment, the Committee asked the Government to provide information on the distribution of men and women in the different occupations and at the various levels of employment in air transport enterprises and in the fields of education, health care and financial services in which, according to a previous report, 30 collective agreements were concluded which have been analysed by the Government. The Committee notes that the statistics provided by the Government do not provide the information requested. The Committee therefore requests the Government once again to provide the respective information with its next report.

5. The Committee notes that, according to the statistics provided by the Government with its last report, 33 per cent of the persons employed in the public administration in 2000 were women. The Committee considers that there has been a slight reduction in the occupational gap between men and women workers in view of the fact that, according to the statistics provided for 1995, women accounted for 30 per cent of the labour force employed in the public administration and the defence. Nevertheless, as the participation rate of women in the public administration remains low, the Committee trusts that the Government will make every effort to ensure fuller participation by women at all levels so as to enable them to achieve parity in relation to the participation of men. The Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report whether the statistical information provided on this occasion on the public administration also covers persons employed in defence.

6. The Committee notes the comments made by the ICFTU, according to which the Government’s statistical information shows that 35 per cent of women who work in extractive, processing and electrical industries are in the lowest income groups, compared with only 8 per cent of men working in these sectors. The Committee asks the Government to provide the Office with its comments on this subject.

7. The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government in its report indicating that in April 2002 the National Council of the Maquiladora Export Industry and the Secretariat of Labour and Social Insurance, with the President of the Republic as an honorary witness, concluded a cooperation agreement to improve the working conditions of women in the maquiladora (export processing) industry. The Committee also notes the statistics provided by the Government in its report, showing that in 2000 women accounted for 55 per cent of the labour force in the maquiladora industry. The Committee notes that, according to the data on remuneration contained in the statistics, women receive lower wages than men, as they receive approximately 92 per cent of the average earnings of the latter. The Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to continue reducing the wage gap between men and women in the maquiladora industry. The Committee also notes the information provided by the ICFTU indicating that the majority of the labour force in the maquiladora industry are women, who are receiving lower wages than those received in the domestic manufacturing sector. The Committee asks the Government to provide up-to-date information with its next report indicating the concentration of men and women in managerial positions and in general jobs in the maquiladora industry, as well as information on the activities carried out in the context of the above cooperation agreement to improve the situation of women in this sector.

8. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report to the effect that, on the occasion of the seminar on women and employment relationships held in 1999, on which it included information in its previous report, the first meeting was held of the Bicameral Committee of the Women’s Parliament, with a view to analysing the relationship between women and work, education and health, and to carry out an assessment of the work of the parliamentary equity and gender committees. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing information in future reports on the activities of the Bicameral Committee related to the application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value.

9. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that, during the period covered by the report, inspections were carried out on the subject covered by the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to provide with its next report extracts from the reports of the inspection services, information on the number and nature of the contraventions reported and any other information related to the application of the Convention in practice. In its previous report, the Committee asked the Government to provide information on any special training provided to federal labour inspectors relating to the supervision and investigation of matters related to equal remuneration. The Committee notes the Government’s reply that it has no information on this subject. The Committee trusts that the Government will obtain the information requested and provide it to the Office with its next report.