CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its first report.

Article 2 of the Convention. 1. The Committee notes the Government's statement that the Convention is applied through collective agreements in accordance with Article 2(2)(c) of the Convention.

The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information with respect to the methods in operation for determining the rates of remuneration for workers in the public service and in the private sector other than those who are remunerated under the terms of collective bargaining agreements. In this regard, the Government is asked to send with its next report copies of recent wage orders, wage schedules and other documents whereby remuneration is fixed for various groups of workers. The Committee also notes that no statistics are currently available on the number of workers covered by collective agreements, and hopes that the Government will be able to provide information in this respect in the next report.

2. The Committee notes that separate minimum wages have been laid down for men and women, and for male and female juveniles, in the Agricultural Worker (Minimum Wage) (Amendment) Order, 1977. The Government is asked to indicate what steps have been taken to amend the above Order with a view to fixing equal minimum wages for men and women workers, in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention.

3. The Committee also notes the statement in the report that some collective agreements in agriculture - including the agreement of 24 June 1982 between Geest Industries (Estates) Ltd. and St. Lucia Farmers' and Farm Workers' Progressive Union - still include lower rates for women than for men; and that the Labour Department may make contact with the parties to point out the requirements of the Convention. Please indicate the measures which have been taken to provide for equal rates for men and women, and the results achieved.

The Committee also notes that the Contracts of Service Act, 1970, provides in its section 11 that men may be entitled to severance payments until the age of 65, and women until the age of 60. Please indicate what consideration may have been given to bringing this legislation into conformity with the Convention.

Article 3. The Committee notes the statement in the report that collective agreements sometimes include job classifications on the basis of evaluation of the work done. The Government is requested to provide information on measures taken both in the public and private sectors, through collective bargaining or otherwise, to promote objective appraisal of jobs on the basis of the work to be performed, and to provide examples of any further progress achieved in this regard.

Article 4. The Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report what measures have been taken to promote co-operation with employers' and workers' organisations, such as tripartite meetings, distribution of publications, etc., for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of the Convention, and what results have been obtained from these measures.

Point V of the report form. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the number, types and results of disputes concerning equal remuneration to which the Labour Department has lent its good offices for resolution, and any other information available on the practical measures taken to give effect to the Convention.