CMNT_TITLE

1. The Committee notes that the Plan for Equality of Opportunities between Women and Men 2006–10 establishes, among other objectives, the achievement by 2010 of a 30 per cent increase in the number of women in managerial positions in the public and private sectors, an increase of 10 per cent in the level of competitiveness of women in terms of access to financial resources, technology and training. It also notes the other objectives of the Plan, such as the inclusion of equality of opportunity in the development plans concluded with regional and local governments. Please indicate the manner in which the Plan contributes to the application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value.

2. The Committee notes the activities carried out in the context of the Women’s Programme for the Consolidation of Employment – Women Entrepreneurs (PROFECE) of the National Directorate of Micro- and Small Enterprises of the Ministry of Labour. It notes that, according to the report, PROFECE is the state consultative body for economic initiatives by associations headed by women and is the largest exchange for associations for services and products at the national level. Please provide information on the implementation on this Programme, and particularly on the number of women covered and their income in comparison with that of men.

3. In its previous direct request, the Committee noted that, according to the information contained in a document of the Directorate of Prevention and Inspections, there was no effective machinery to investigate violations of the Convention. It requested the Government to provide information on the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure that inspections were carried out to verify whether effect was given in practice to the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. It notes that, according to the Government’s report, the General Act respecting labour inspection (No. 28806), of 22 July 2006, was recently published and that, although there is no specific provision covering inspection and penalties for failure to comply with the right to equal remuneration, the possibility is envisaged of providing guidance and technical assistance to workers and employers. The Committee refers to paragraph 8 of its general observation of 2006, in which it emphasized “the important role of judges and labour inspectors in ensuring the application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. Noting that in a number of countries certain measures have been taken to assist judges and labour inspectors to fulfil this role, including providing training regarding the concept of ‘work of equal value’ and how to apply it in practice, the Committee encourages all Governments to consider taking such action”. Taking into account the above, as well as section 6(f) of recently adopted Act No. 28983, which sets out the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value, the Committee once again requests the Government to adopt the necessary measures to train labour inspectors on the principle set out in the Convention. It also requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted to ensure that the labour inspectorate makes an effective contribution to the application of the principle set out in the Convention.