Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

With reference to its previous direct requests, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report, and in particular the fact that it is taking into account the possibility of making use of ILO advice and cooperation. Since the report was received, such advice has been supplied in the form of comments on a preliminary draft of the Labour Code; the Committee therefore requests the Government to keep it informed of any progress achieved in the adoption of this new Code.

1. The Committee notes that according to section 104 of the preliminary draft "where there are equal working conditions, professional qualifications and output, the salary shall be equal for all workers no matter what their origin, sex, age or status under the conditions laid down in this part of the Code". Noting that, in its technical comments on the preliminary draft, the Office proposed the amendment of this provision so as to bring it into conformity with Article 1(b) of the Convention, which lays out the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value, the Committee asks the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to implement this principle in its legislation and practice in cases where women engage in work of a different nature, but which could be of value equal to that of work carried out by men.

2. The Committee notes from the Government's report that a national system for the objective evaluation of jobs does not yet exist in Burkina Faso and that the Government is envisaging making use of ILO cooperation in order to establish such a system. The Committee confirms the availability of the ILO to provide assistance in undertaking this work if so requested. While awaiting such a request, it asks the Government to supply in its next report information on the measures which have been taken to give effect to Article 3 of the Convention and to keep it informed of the progress achieved in this respect. (Please refer in this connection to the explanations provided in paragraphs 21, 51-62 and 138-152 of its 1986 General Survey on Equal Remuneration.)

3. The Committee notes the Government's statement that the application of the principle of equal remuneration to the proportion of wages which are above the minimum wage is ensured by the system of classification and wage tables in collective agreements in the private sector and by the specific conditions of service for employees in the public sector. It requests the Government to supply in its next report detailed information allowing it to evaluate how the principle of equal remuneration is applied in practice, and particularly: (i) the salary scales applicable in the public sector under the general conditions of service of the public service and the specific conditions of service of employees in the public and semi-public sector, with an indication of the percentage of men and women employed at different levels; (ii) the wage levels established by collective agreements in various sectors of activity, with an indication if possible of the percentage of women covered by these agreements and the distribution of men and women employed at different levels; (iii) statistical data concerning the minimum wage rates and the average actual earnings of men and women broken down, if possible, by occupation, branch of activity, seniority and level of qualification.

4. Noting that the new Constitution was adopted on 11 June 1991, the Committee also requests the Government to supply in its next report details on any measures which have been taken to give effect to the Convention in law and in practice, including the measures taken by labour inspectors to ensure and promote the application of the principle of equal remuneration between men and women workers for work of equal value.