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The Committee notes the comments, attached to the Government’s report, of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU), which include a copy of the General CEDAW Note on Tokelau and the Role of Women submitted to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW/C/NZL/6, 8 May 2006, Appendix 3).

1. Article 2 of the Convention. Equal remuneration for men and women in the public service. The Committee notes the adoption of the Public Service Manual and the Public Service Code of Conduct, which requires public service employers to develop and implement a human resources policy which include “good and safe working conditions including freedom from harassment and discrimination”. The Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on the manner in which this provision is applied in practice with respect to protection against discrimination with respect to wages and emoluments, as well as how the village employment committees are promoting in practice the principle of the Convention. Please also provide information disaggregated by sex on the distribution of men and women in the various grades and salary scales of the public service (Appendix 1 of the Public Service Manual).

2. Application of the principle in the private sector. The Committee notes that those working in the fishing and related trades industry are often self-employed, and recalls that the Convention also applies to self-employed men and women. The Committee reiterates its previous request for information on how activities to promote gender equality and economic empowerment of women have contributed to the promotion of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value in the private sector.

3. Article 4. Cooperation of the social partners. The Committee notes that the NZCTU is monitoring the developments regarding the role of women in Tokelau and asks the Government to indicate in its next report the manner in which it is cooperating with the social partners in promoting the principle of the Convention.