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1. Remuneration gap. The Committee notes from the statistics provided by the Government that the monthly pay differential (mean rate) between men and women stood at 33.7 per cent in 2003. The Government states that the practical enforcement of the country’s equality legislation has contributed to the declining wage gap. The Committee notes, however, that although this gap has been in gradual decline over the past two decades, it nonetheless remains high. The Committee notes the measures indicated by the Government for ensuring that the pay differential between men and women continues to decrease in the coming years - in particular the plan by the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance to commission a project in 2006 for the purpose of defining the reasons, occupations and sectors responsible for the current wage gap. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the supervisory and advisory work of the labour inspectorate with regard to equal pay, including any investigations or job evaluations undertaken and the results obtained. It also asks the Government to keep it informed as to the developments and implementation of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance project scheduled for 2006 and to send information, when available, on its conclusions, recommendations and follow-up measures. Please continue to provide the latest statistical data on pay differentials between men and women for both the public and private sectors in accordance with the Committee’s 1998 general observation.

2. Article 2(2)(a) of the Convention. National laws or regulations. The Committee notes the Equal Pay (Amendment) Act (Law No. 193 (I)/2004) and the Equal Treatment (Amendment) Act (Law No. 191 (I)/2004), which each establish an ombudsperson to receive and independently examine complaints under their respective Acts. It notes in addition the Government’s statement that, although complaints relating to pay discrimination may be dealt with by a committee under the Equal Pay Act, to date, no complaints have been submitted. Noting that, under the Equal Treatment Act, the Gender Equality Committee is mandated to undertake a number of educational and promotional activities, the Committee asks the Government to indicate whether any similar initiatives are under way or anticipated with respect to the Equal Pay Act to raise awareness about equal remuneration generally among workers and the social partners and, more specifically, to publicize the complaint mechanisms available under the Equal Pay Act. The Committee also asks the Government to provide information on the work of the equal pay and equal treatment ombudspersons, along with the number and outcome of cases submitted to them concerning equal pay.

3. Article 2(2)(c). Collective Agreements. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance has sent a circular to all social partners requesting the examination and amendment of existing collective agreement provisions found to be contrary to the Equal Pay Act of 2002. Noting that October 2005 was the deadline for the social partners to report to the Ministry, the Committee asks the Government to indicate the number of collective agreements identified in this exercise that contained provisions incompatible with the Equal Pay Act. It also asks the Government to provide information on any processes under way and the amendments adopted, if any, to remedy outstanding discriminatory provisions in collective agreements with respect to equal pay between men and women.