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The Committee notes that in reply to its previous direct request the Government has stated that the principle of "equal pay for equal work" is a principle of social justice, and that it is a basic component of the Government's policies.

The Committee recalls that in its 1985 direct request it had noted that the guaranteed inter-occupational minimum hourly wage and the guaranteed inter-occupational minimum wages of workers in agricultural undertakings apply to both sexes without distinction, and that it had asked the Government to indicate how the principle of equal remuneration was applied to the part of remuneration that exceeds the minimum wage. In this connection, it recalled that, under Article 1(a) of the Convention, the term "remuneration" includes not only the basic wage but also any other elements paid by the employee.

In reply, the Government referred in its report received in October 1987, to section 90 of the Labour Code and to section 38 of the Inter-occupational Collective Agreement of 9 July 1974, which provide that under equal conditions of work, vocational qualifications and output, wages shall be equal for all workers irrespective of their origin, sex, age or status. The Committee noted in its 1988 direct request that equal remuneration should apply for work of "equal value", not simply to cases of equal conditions of work as indicated in the Government's report. It asked for information on the measures taken or contemplated to give effect to this principle, particularly in cases where, in practice, men and women perform work of a different nature but of equal value. In this connection, the Committee drew the Government's attention to paragraphs 20 to 23 and 52 to 70 of its 1986 General Survey on Equal Remuneration.

The Committee notes the assurances given by the Government that the Convention is fully applied, and requests it to indicate in its next report:

(a)how the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value is applied for remuneration higher than the minimum wage; and

(b)how effect is given to this principle in cases where, in practice, men and women perform work of a different nature but of equal value.