CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report and attached documentation.

1. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information concerning the application of the principle of equal remuneration in the private sector.

(i) As concerns the categories of workers excluded from the National Minimum Wage Act 1981, the Committee had requested the Government to supply information, including copies of any relevant circulars or codes adopted by the Nigerian Employers' Consultative Association (NECA) concerning payment to these workers of wage rates in accordance with the Act. The Committee notes from the report that the Government has invited the NECA to respond to the Committee's request. The Committee recalls the obligation encumbent upon the Government under Article 2 of the Convention to promote the application of the principle of equal remuneration, as well as the obligation under Article 4 of the Convention to co-operate with the relevant employers' and workers' organisations for the purpose of giving effect to the Convention. It hopes accordingly that the information requested will be furnished with the next government report.

(ii) Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the statement of the Government according to which compliance with the Convention is monitored through the scrutiny of all collective agreements: discriminatory provisions in fringe benefits are not approved and consequently not implemented. The Committee also refers to the requirements of the Incomes Policy Guidelines 1990 issued by the Productivity, Prices and Incomes Board of the Federal Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (similar versions of which appear to have been issued regularly for some years) which provide that any negotiated increases in salaries and wages together with negotiated revisions or introductions of fringe benefits must receive the approval of the Federal Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity. The Committee also notes that establishments employing ten or more persons are required to submit to that Ministry, full information on the wages, salaries and fringe benefits paid to all categories of their employees together with details on the number of employees in each occupational group, with their productivity schemes (Part A - Wages and Salaries, Private Sector, paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iv)). In view of the fact that these provisions bring under government control not only all increases in wages, salaries and fringe benefits but also information on the wages paid to employees in establishments where ten or more persons are employed, the Committee requests the Government to indicate whether measures are also being taken or contemplated to ensure compliance with the principle of the Convention at the same time as reviews are made of documentation submitted under the above-mentioned guidelines. The Committee also requests the Government to furnish with its next report some samples of the documentation required to be submitted with productivity schemes under Part A, paragraph (iv) of the above-mentioned guidelines.

(iii) The Committee notes that the Government has again given its assurance that texts of collective agreements concluded in sectors employing a comparatively high number of women will be forwarded as soon as they are available. Recalling that the Government has reiterated its intention to forward these agreements for some years, the Committee trusts that the texts requested will be forwarded without further delay.

2. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning remuneration in the public sector, including Administrative Circular No. 1/1988, "Elongation of the salary grade levels in the public sector" and its annexure (Unified grading and salary structure) and the pay slips for employees in the Federal Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information concerning the application of the Convention in the public sector.

3. As concerns the application of the principle of equal remuneration in regard to wages paid for work of equal value but of a different nature, the Committee notes from the report that jobs are evaluated and graded before salaries are fixed. The Committee requests the Government to provide the job evaluation document referred to in the report in the near future.