CMNT_TITLE

Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s statement in its report to the effect that, despite the legislative provisions establishing the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value, in practice a clear gap continues to exist between the income of men and women in almost all branches, occupational categories, and groups and levels of education. According to the Directorate-General of Statistics, Surveys and Censuses, even though the wage gap has decreased, women earn 73.1 per cent of the average monthly pay of men generally, the figure being lower in the public sector. The Government also indicates that the lack of more rigorous inspection and of a greater focus on gender issues is obstructing the application of the law. The Committee notes that the objectives of the “Third National Plan for equal opportunities for women and men 2008–17” include emphasis on promulgating and ensuring compliance with laws which guarantee women’s and men’s rights to equal pay for the same work or work of equal value. The Committee asks the Government to continue to supply information on the activities undertaken to promote the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value, particularly the measures adopted or envisaged to reduce the pay gap, including results collected in the context of the evaluation of the national reference plan. The Committee also asks the Government to supply information on the action undertaken within the Tripartite Committee on Equal Opportunities (CTIO) aimed at reducing the gender pay gap.