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The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report contains no reply to previous comments. It hopes that the next report will include full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the adoption of the Education Act No. 11 of 1997 and in particular its provisions (Part VI) concerning the establishment and the functions of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Council (TVEC). The TVEC is, among others, responsible for preparing plans for technical and vocational education and training in accordance with national policies and economic needs, establishing training priorities, qualification and accreditation, advising on allocation of resources and making recommendations as regards regulations respecting technical and vocational education and training. The Committee would be grateful if the Government could supply in its next report information on the activities undertaken or planned by the TVEC which have a bearing on the application of the Convention. In this connection, it also wishes to draw the Government’s attention to its comments made under the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111).

2. The Committee notes that, in the context of the Public Service Administrative Reform Programme (which is being managed by the Establishment, Personnel and Training Department), use is being made of a job evaluation manual which includes an analytical methodology based on objective criteria and that a tripartite committee is responsible for the implementation of the job evaluation. As it would appear that the application of the Convention to the public service would be applied through the use of the job evaluation, the Government is requested to supply a copy of the manual and information on its application.

3. Referring to its previous comments concerning the application of section 24 of the Labour Standards Act of 1977 (prohibiting differences in wages between male and female workers employed in the same business who are performing, under the same working conditions, the same or similar work or jobs requiring similar skill, effort and responsibility), the Committee requests the Government to indicate how the principle of equal remuneration between men and women for work of equal value is applied in practice. The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would supply information on any other measures taken or contemplated to promote and facilitate the application of the provisions of the Convention. Such measures could include public information and awareness-raising campaigns promoting the principles of the Convention or initiatives taken by the Government, in cooperation with organizations of employers and workers, to promote, in general, equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women in employment.

4. The Committee refers to its general observation of 1998 and hopes that the Government will provide sufficient information to enable the Committee to assess the implementation of the Convention in practice.