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The Committee notes the report provided by the Government and the documents attached. It also notes the entry into force of Act No. 2003-47 of 17 January 2003 on wages, working time and employment development, which is intended, among other objectives, to put an end by 1 July 2005 at the latest to the six different minimum wage rates (guaranteed monthly remuneration - GMR and minimum interoccupational growth wage - SMIC) currently in force and attributable to the measures adopted for the reduction of working time.

Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention. The Committee notes that according to the legislation in force reductions in the rate of the SMIC are envisaged for young employees and workers with disabilities. Young workers who have not acquired six months of occupational experience in the corresponding sector receive the SMIC, but at a rate that is reduced by 20 per cent for workers aged under 17 years and by 10 per cent for those aged between 17 and 18 years. In this respect, the Committee wishes to refer to paragraph 176 of its General Survey of 1992 on minimum wages in which it indicates that the reasons that prompted the adoption of lower minimum wage rates for groups of workers on account of their age and disabilities should be regularly re-examined in light of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value. The Committee would therefore be grateful if the Government would provide additional information on this subject, including extracts from recent studies assessing the introduction of the "SMIC Youth" and whether it is appropriate to pursue a policy of fixing lower minimum wage rates as a function of the age of workers.

Article 5 and Part V of the report form. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of any developments relating to the application of the Convention in law and practice.