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1. The Committee notes the comments made by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) of 23 September 2003. Noting that the issues raised relate to the application by Senegal of Convention No. 111, the Committee refers to its comments on that Convention.

2. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s brief report which does not provide any reply to the points raised in its previous direct request. The Committee must therefore repeat its previous comments which read as follows:

(a) Article 2. Application of the principle in the public service. The Committee notes the information that the criteria used for classification within the various ranks of workers in the public service are based on level of diploma and the length of vocational training. However, it notes that the information provided does not enable the Committee to evaluate the application in practice of the principle of equal remuneration of men and women workers for work of equal value. Please provide information on the number of men and women in each level of classification and the corresponding levels of remuneration.

(b) Article 2 and Part V of the report form. Application of the principle in the private sector - statistics and practical measures. The Committee reiterates its earlier reminder to the Government that, under Article 2 of the Convention, a State which ratifies the Convention is obliged to ensure the application in practice of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value, by means appropriate to the methods in operation for determining rates of remuneration in the country. Even where the State does not intervene in the determination of wages, it must promote the application of the principle. The Committee is therefore bound to reiterate its earlier request to the Government to provide with its next report statistical data on the distribution of men and women, length of service and level of qualification, and in particular on the percentage of women employed in agricultural and allied occupations, or as domestic and household staff, as well as on the distribution of men and women at the various wage levels in these sectors and in the food industry. It also asks the Government to provide information with its next report on labour inspection activities relating to the application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value and to provide information on any measures adopted or envisaged to improve the skill levels of women and their access to decision-making positions.