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The Committee notes the information, including statistical data, contained in the Government’s report.

1. According to the statistical information supplied in the report, women made up 29 per cent of the labour force in Malta as of August 2000. The Committee notes that women are under represented in all sectors of the Maltese labour market, with the exception of the banking, insurance and real estate sector, where women make up 47.7 per cent of the labour force. The report indicates that there is a trend towards a more favourable gender balance between men and women in the 16-24 age group where, as of June 1999, women made up 47.4 per cent of the labour force. In addition, information from the Central Office of Statistics shows that in the 1998-99 academic year, more females (51 per cent) than males (49 per cent) were enrolled in university courses.

2. The Government attributes the relatively low percentage of women in the Maltese labour market to family responsibilities. Noting the information contained in the report concerning the measures taken by the Maltese Public Service to promote equal opportunities and equal treatment of women in employment, including family-friendly measures such as special leave periods and the possibility of reduced working hours, the Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report the measures taken or contemplated and progress achieved in increasing the percentage of women in the Maltese labour force overall, including the percentages of women at levels of decision-making authority, and their levels of remuneration. The Committee notes from the report that the Government does not yet have current information on the composition of earnings, but that an earnings survey planned in the future will supply this information. The Committee would appreciate receiving this information as soon as it becomes available.

3. The Committee refers to its previous comments regarding the revision of the Conditions of Employment Act of 1952, and to the Government’s stated intention to include in the Act both a provision expressing the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value, and sanctions in respect of salary discrimination. In this regard, the Committee repeats its request that the Government keep it informed of the progress of the revision and that it supply a copy of the revised Act upon adoption.

4. Referring to its earlier comments regarding the Minimum Weekly National Standard Order LN 42 of 1976, the Committee reiterates its request that the Government indicate in its next report whether the Order remains in force. Further, the Committee also repeats its request for precise and detailed information which would enable the Committee to determine the extent to which Article 1(a) of the Convention is applied in practice and asks the Government to provide full information on this point in its next report.

5. The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to its previous request that the Government communicate information on the activities of the labour inspectorate, and provide information on violations of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value, if any, and the action taken as a consequence.