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Addressing the gender remuneration gap. The Committee notes that the overall gender remuneration gap (gross hourly earnings) further decreased from 25 per cent in 2005 to 22.8 per cent in 2007, but remains relatively high. The Committee notes the findings and proposals made by the “Analysis of the Gender Pay Gap in Cyprus and Practical Suggestions for Reducing the Gap” with respect to the underlying causes of the gender pay gap and the unexplained difference in wages which is presumed to be due to discrimination. The Committee notes that the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance (MLSI), with inputs from the social partners, developed a project with concrete measures aimed at reducing the gender pay gap to be implemented during 2009–13, and to be co-financed by the European Social Fund. Some of the measures include the establishment of an effective inspection mechanism for the enforcement of equal pay legislation, the preparation of manuals and guides as tools for investigating cases of inequality in employment, training programmes for trade unions and employers’ associations, measures for eliminating occupational and sectoral segregation, interventions promoting the reconciliation of work and family life, and measures for the elimination of gender stereotypes through the educational system. The Committee asks the Government to provide information in the implementation of the project aimed at reducing the gender pay gap, including copies of manuals and tools developed, and the results achieved so far. Please also continue to provide statistical data on the gender remuneration gap in respect of gross hourly earnings, as well as specific information on the earnings of men and women in the private and public sectors.

Collective agreements. The Committee notes that employers’ and workers’ organizations were invited to examine the compliance of the provisions of collective agreements with the equal pay legislation, and that the Government hopes that the training activities and guidelines, manuals and tools to be developed in the context of the abovementioned project will contribute to avoiding and eliminating discriminatory provisions in collective agreements. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on any action undertaken by the social partners to examine the compliance of provisions of collective agreements with the equal pay legislation, and the results achieved.

Job evaluation systems. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the project aimed at reducing the gender pay gap will include measures aimed at developing and promoting job evaluation tools for managers and human resource professionals. The Government further states that the MLSI would support initiatives of the social partners to evaluate and classify occupations of certain sectors of the economy. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on any measures taken to promote and develop tools for objective job evaluation under the project aimed at reducing the gender pay gap, as well as on action taken to support social partners in undertaking objective job evaluation exercises free from gender bias, and the results achieved.

Minimum wages. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the minimum wages increases in 2008 and 2009, as well as the expansion of their coverage to security guards and employees with sanitation and caring duties, have contributed to reducing the gender pay gap. Please continue to provide information on any future minimum wages increases, particularly in sectors in which women are predominantly employed, and their impact on the gender wage gap.

Enforcement. The Committee notes that no complaints were submitted regarding violations of the principle of equal remuneration and that the Government attributes the small number of complaints partly to the fact that many private sector employees are covered by collective agreements. Noting the Government’s indication that awareness raising on the existing complaints mechanism and the provisions of the equal pay legislation will be covered by the project aimed at reducing the gender pay gap, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on the implementation of such activities, and their impact. Please continue to provide information on complaints concerning violations of the equal pay legislation brought before the competent bodies and the courts.