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1. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that, according to the survey of professions conducted by the Latvian Central Statistical Bureau women’s average gross salary for the month of October 1999 was 78.5 per cent of men’s. It further notes the Government’s statement that women’s average gross salary was less than that for men in all ten occupational groups examined under the classification of occupations system utilized by the Central Statistical Bureau. In this context, the Committee would appreciate receiving information, including statistical data, in the Government’s next report on the distribution and remuneration of men and women among the ten occupational groups and at the different levels in those sectors. In this regard, please refer to the Committee’s 1998 general observation on the Convention.

2. Article 1(a) and (b) of the Convention. The Committee refers to its previous comments, which noted that the 1994 Latvian Labour Code does not contain a definition of "remuneration", nor does it express the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. The Committee notes with interest that the new draft Labour Code addresses these issues and incorporates European Council Directive 75/117/EC on equal pay for men and women. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply a copy of the draft Code as soon as it is enacted.

3. Article 3. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the wage disparity between men and women in certain enterprises is due to two factors: (1) Latvian women’s greater burden of family responsibilities, which impedes their access to better paid and higher level positions; and (2) occupational segregation, which leads to a higher concentration of women in the education, social work and culture sectors, which are financed by the state and municipal budgets and have the lowest average salaries in Latvia. The Committee again asks the Government to provide information on measures taken to raise public awareness of this problem and promote a more equal sharing of family responsibilities, as well as any concrete measures taken or envisaged to assist men and women workers in balancing work and family responsibilities. The Government is again asked to indicate any measures taken to promote women’s access to better-paid supervisory and managerial positions, including providing occupational guidance and vocational training to enable women to compete more effectively for such positions.

4. Referring to its earlier comments, the Committee notes that the Concept on Payment of 30 June 1998 determines basic principles of payment policy development, including the principles of equity and transparency. It notes that, on 11 January 2000, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a concept on payment systems for employees of institutions financed by the state budget. The Government indicates that jobs in these institutions are evaluated by utilizing analytical methodology developed to evaluate jobs involving intellectual and physical tasks. The Committee asks the Government to provide in its next report the results achieved in terms of raising women’s wages by applying this payment system methodology to these institutions. Further, referring to its previous comments regarding the concentration of women in lower paid sectors in the Latvian labour market, the Committee once again points out that the adoption of non-discriminatory job evaluation criteria applied in a uniform manner and on the broader level at which wage policies are set may lead to a reduction in the existing wage disparities arising from traditional stereotypes in respect of the value of "women’s work" (see General Survey on equal remuneration, 1986, paragraph 256). The Committee therefore again asks the Government to indicate the steps taken or contemplated to ensure that the analytical methodology described in the report utilizes a scope of comparison outside the limits of the female-dominated sector or enterprise (such as the sectors financed by state and municipal budgets).

5. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee once again asks the Government to supply the following information: (1) samples of collective agreements, including wage scales, concluded for sectors or enterprises in which women are concentrated; (2) an indication of the extent to which workers in those sectors or enterprises are employed on piece-wages instead of salaries and the criteria utilized by employers to determine which of these two systems of remuneration is to be applied; (3) information on the extent to which work quotas are used, the types of jobs and sectors in which they are primarily utilized, the manner in which such quotas are set and applied and any measures taken or contemplated to ensure that remuneration under the work quota system is paid in accordance with the principle of the Convention.

6. Part III of the report form. The Committee notes the information provided in the report with regard to the activities of the Latvian Human Rights Office. It also notes from the report that, in 1999, the State Labour Inspectorate registered 2,018 equal pay violations out of a total of 15,350 violations. The Committee would appreciate receiving information on the activities of these two agencies in future reports, and the manner in which the violations were remedied.

7. Part IV of the report form. The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government regarding the first case brought before the Latvian courts which raises the issue of sex-based salary discrimination. Noting that the case is currently on appeal to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Latvia, the Committee asks the Government to keep it informed regarding this matter and to supply a copy of the decision once a final outcome is reached.