CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report, including the attached statistical data and collective agreements.

1. The Committee had previously asked the Government to indicate how the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value is applied to those groups of workers excluded from the protection of the Equal Opportunity Act (No. 2), 2000, and other legislative provisions. In this regard the Committee notes the Government’s statement that, for part-time workers, the principle of the Convention is applied by means of collective agreements. The Committee asks the Government to provide copies of such agreements in its next report and to indicate the percentage of part-time workers covered by them. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that it is considering a more comprehensive legislative approach to the application of the Convention. In this connection, the Committee wishes to emphasize the importance of extending the equal pay principle, in legislation, to all groups of workers and all sectors of activity. Additionally, the Committee refers to its previous comment on the absence of a specific provision relating to equal remuneration for work of equal value and expresses its hope that the Government would also consider the inclusion of a provision embodying the principle of the Convention in any legislative amendments contemplated. It therefore asks the Government to provide information on the progress of this initiative.

2. The Committee notes that job evaluation exercises are being undertaken for different sectors of the public service: the appraisal of jobs in the civil service and statutory authorities is expected to be completed in 2005, whereas the evaluation exercise for the teaching and protective services has been completed. The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on the methodology used in these job evaluations, including the criteria employed in job appraisals. Additionally, the Committee asks the Government to supply a copy of the salary scale produced by the evaluation of the teaching and protective services, including statistical data concerning the number of women and men in each grade and post.

3. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that objective job appraisals are increasingly being promoted by means of collective agreements, such as the Memorandum of Agreement between the Chief Personnel Officer and the Trinidad and Tobago United Teachers’ Association attached to the Government’s report. Please continue to provide information on the methodology used in these job evaluations, including the manner in which gender bias is being avoided.

4. With respect to job evaluations in the private sector, the Government states that the Ministry of Labour and small and micro-enterprise development will conduct a survey relating to job evaluations at the enterprise level. The Committee asks the Government to indicate the results of the survey, once they are available.

5. The statistical data in the Government’s report indicate that in 2001, 43 per cent of the female labour force were employed in two occupational categories: clerks and service workers. Women are under-represented in most of the other fields of employment. In 2001 women comprised 40 per cent of the legislators, senior officials and managers, but just 11 per cent of the employees in crafts-related work and 9 per cent of all plant and machine operators. Women’s earnings were approximately 81 per cent of men’s in 2001. The Committee notes, however, that women legislators, senior officials and managers earned just 63 per cent of the income of their male counterparts in 1996, and that this percentage had decreased to 53 per cent in 2001. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the measures taken to reduce the differential between incomes for men and women, particularly with respect to legislators, senior officials and managers. Also, please indicate the measures taken or contemplated to promote the access of women to all fields of employment, including non-traditional occupations.