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The Committee has noted the information supplied by the Government in response to the Committee's previous comments.

1. The Committee recalls that, over the last several years, various workers' organisations have expressed concern over the lack of significant progress in reducing the wage differential between female and male workers. According to the Government's report, the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions and the Confederation of Salaried Employees have stated that pay differences between women and men have still not been reduced. The Committee notes from the statistics available from the Office of the Council of State, provided by the Government, that there has been a continuous, though not dramatic diminution of the pay differential for all but one group of wage earners, over the last ten years. The Government has also indicated that in the public sector, where the total average earnings of women are some 77 per cent of those of men, the difference is mainly due to the fact that men and women hold different posts.

2. The Committee takes note of the information contained in the Government's report on a number of measures being taken to reduce wage differentials between the sexes:

(i) The labour market parties have been undertaking an investigation of the effect of the equality allowance, which was introduced in 1988 specifically to reduce pay imbalances between women and men. The Committee recalls that the size of the allowance is determined on the basis of the predominance of female employees in each sector. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide in its next report, information on the outcome of this study.

(ii) Following the decision of the comprehensive economic and incomes policy settlement to develop a job evaluation system, a working group was established to examine evaluation systems, taking into account, in particular, female-dominated sectors, and to develop recommendations which consider the possibility of comparing difficulty ratings between sectors. The Committee notes this initiative with interest and requests the Government to provide information on the findings of the working group and to indicate any measures taken to implement its recommendations.

(iii) Apart from responding to requests for advice on alleged pay discrimination, the Equality Ombudsman has also carried out on-site inspections of workplaces (under section 18 of the Equality Act) which involve interviews with employees and employers and the investigation of working conditions and the requirements of jobs. The Committee requests the Government to continue to furnish information on the activities of the Ombudsman in its future reports.

3. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government regarding the re-evaluation of state pay systems, which is being undertaken with a view to developing systems which provide for incentives to encourage productive, economical and profitable operations. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any methods eventually put into place, which are relevant to the application of the Convention.