CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report and the appended documentation.

1. The Committee notes that, according to the report prepared by the National Council for Women (CNM) on women, labour and employment, and the report on the application of article 3 of the MERCOSUR Social and Labour Declaration, both of which were attached to the Government’s report, and the report provided by the Government to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) of 11 February 2002 (CEDAW/C/ART/5), the wage gap between men and women workers has continued and increased significantly to the detriment of women in low-pay sectors. Nevertheless, the Committee notes that the wage gap is decreasing at the middle and higher levels, according to the data of the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INDEC) for the period 1991-2000. The Committee notes that, according to the analysis, the principal causes of wage differences between men and women are the following: the existence of horizontal and vertical occupational segregation; the lower number of weekly hours worked by women (34.81) in comparison with men (46.26); the high concentration of women in unskilled sectors; the lack of vocational training for women; and the existence of prejudices which undervalue the work performed by women. In this respect, the Committee once again asks the Government to provide information on the impact of the activities carried out by the CNM and by the Tripartite Commission for Equality of Treatment and Opportunity between Men and Women in the World of Work, as well as on the effect that the many proposals made concerning the application of article 3 of the MERCOSUR Social and Labour Declaration have in contributing to reducing the wage gap between men and women, especially in the lowest paid sectors, and in increasing the participation of women in the better paid sectors.

2. The Committee once again notes that the Government’s report does not contain any reference to the advisory commission envisaged in section 130 of the General Collective Agreement for the National Public Administration, approved by Decree No. 66/99. The Committee reiterates its previous request and asks the Government to provide information on the activities undertaken by the above commission to promote the presence of more women in sectors involving greater responsibilities.

3. The Committee also reiterates the request made to the Government in its previous comment for the provision of information on the measures adopted or envisaged to increase the awareness of labour inspectors in relation to the application of the Convention.