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1. Article 2 of the Convention. Application of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value. In its previous comments the Committee noted that the study of 2001, entitled "Egalité de rémunération entre les hommes et les femmes dans le secteur moderne au Mali", showed an important wage gap between men and women in Mali, as well as a low participation rate of women in salaried employment in the modern private sector and in decision-making positions. It also noted in its previous comments that the action plan, adopted in 2001 to promote equal remuneration for men and women in Mali, included the following action: (a) analysis of equal remuneration in the informal and agricultural sectors; (b) the development of vocational training for women; (c) the review of collective agreements; (d) the revision of the general status of public service workers; and (e) the revision of the Labour Code. In this respect, the Committee also notes the report on activities carried out for the period October 2002 to July 2004 by the project PAMODEC/MALI (Promotional project to apply the principles and fundamental rights of work, with the assistance of the ILO) and particularly the training activities with the social partners, women, the directors of human resources departments, judges and lawyers, with respect to equal remuneration between men and women and the principle of non-discrimination in employment and occupation.

2. The Committee notes this information and asks the Government to continue to provide information on the activities undertaken in the framework of the PAMODEC project, including activities of the National Directorate for the Promotion of Women and the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Promotion of Women, and their impact on women’s and men’s equal remuneration for work of equal value. The Government is also asked to supply information on progress made with regard to the implementation of the abovementioned action plan, and its impact with regard to reducing the gender wage gap.

3. Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee notes the statistical information provided by the Government on the school attendance rate of girls for the year 2003-04. It notes that girls are less represented than boys in the basic classes (girls constitute on average 40 per cent) and that the number decreases radically in the higher classes. Taking into account that inequalities between boys and girls in education constitute an origin for future unequal remuneration in the labour market, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on measures taken or envisaged, including those taken by the National Directorate for the Promotion of Women and the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Promotion of Women, to promote girls’ access to education and training and the results obtained.

4. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that it omitted to provide information on its previous comments. It therefore repeats its previous comments:

Article 2. Application of the principle of equal remuneration. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value is set forth in the Labour Code, in collective agreements, enterprise agreements between employers and workers, and in decrees determining wages in certain branches of activity. It asks the Government to provide copies of these collective agreements, enterprise agreements and decrees, as well as information on the measures taken to ensure the guarantee of equal remuneration for work of equal value, as set out in the Convention.

Article 3. Objective job evaluation. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that at present it is unable to carry out any objective job evaluations and that it requests the technical assistance of the ILO in this respect. The Committee hopes it will be possible to provide such assistance in the near future. In the meantime, it asks the Government to refer to paragraphs 19-23 and 52-70 of its 1986 General Survey on equal remuneration, which provides clarifications regarding certain evaluation methods. It would also be grateful if the Government would keep it informed of all future developments in this respect.

Part III of the report form. Authorities in charge of the application of the Convention. It also notes that the application of the principle of equal remuneration is ensured by the central and regional labour inspection services, the courts and organizations of employers and workers through inspections of workplaces, regular supervision of employment contracts, the examination of registers of workers and remuneration records and questions asked to workers. The Committee asks the Government to provide information with its next report on these measures and on their effectiveness in ensuring the application of the principle set out in the Convention.