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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

1. Minimum wages. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the Minimum Wages Commission – set up in early 2006 and dissolved in December of the same year when the new Government came to power – did not establish any minimum wages, and a new commission has not yet been set up. The Committee recalls that minimum wages are an important means of applying the Convention, and asks the Government to indicate any measures taken to establish a new mechanism to determine minimum wages and to ensure that the principle of the Convention is respected in the process of setting minimum wages.

2. Agricultural sector, including banana plantations. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that there are currently no collective agreements in force in the agricultural sector. The Committee, therefore, asks the Government to provide information on the manner in which remuneration is determined in this sector and on the measures in place to ensure that no differential wage rates are applied for men and women for work of equal value.

3. Objective job evaluation. The Committee asked the Government previously for information on measures taken to promote objective job evaluation, in particular through collective bargaining. Given the absence of a response on this matter, the Committee again asks the Government for information on measures taken to promote objective job evaluation in the private sector, and in particular through the collective bargaining process. The Committee also asks the Government to provide samples of collective agreements applying the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value.

4. Labour inspection. The Committee once again asks the Government to provide information on labour inspections, including the number of violations of the principle of equal remuneration addressed through inspections, and the action taken to remedy such violations.

5. Statistics. Noting the Government’s statement that there are no statistics disaggregated by sex regarding workers at different grades or wage scales, the Committee recalls the importance of such statistics in assessing the application of the Convention in practice. The Committee, therefore, asks the Government to take steps to put in place a system for the collection and analysis of statistics, disaggregated by sex, in line with the Committee’s 1998 general observation on this matter, and to keep the Committee informed of any progress made in this regard.