Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report and in the supplementary documentation provided, as well as the comments of the Italian Confederation of Company Managers (CIDA).

1.  The Government states that, although the position of women in the labour market has improved in recent years, there are still differences between men’s and women’s levels of economic activity, particularly in some regions of the country and in certain sectors and occupations. According to CIDA, the percentage of women in the Italian labour market has increased, rising to 35.3 per cent in 1998. However, women are still frequently segregated into occupations that are considered traditionally female and, further, while the number of female managers is increasing, vertical occupational segregation is still significant. The statistical data attached to CIDA’s comments show that the average gross earnings of women managers is 82 per cent of the average gross earnings of their male counterparts.

2.  The Government attributes the persistence of salary differentials between men and women to a number of factors, including women’s greater share of family responsibilities and their concentration in lower-paid sectors and in temporary and part-time work. In respect of family responsibilities, the Government indicates that it attaches particular importance to actions which make personal or family life and working time more compatible. In this respect, the Committee notes the adoption of Act No. 53 of 8 March 2000, which contains provisions concerning maternity, paternal and training leave and flexible working hours. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to keep it informed of measures taken or envisaged to assist men and women in balancing their work and family responsibilities and of the effect of these measures on women’s participation in the labour market as well as on the existing wage disparities. With regard to women’s concentration in lower-paid sectors and occupations, the Committee notes CIDA’s comments recommending that measures be taken to improve not only the number of women employed, but also the quality of their employment, by promoting women’s equal access to the education and training necessary to permit them to compete effectively for and obtain higher-level and better-paid positions. The Committee would appreciate receiving information in the Government’s next report on any measures taken in this respect. The Committee also notes from the report that the spread of atypical forms of employment contracts has contributed to the increase in women’s employment and that far greater numbers of women than men are in part-time employment. Noting that the Government also attributes the persistent salary differentials between women and men to women’s concentration in temporary and part-time employment, the Committee asks the Government to indicate the measures taken to promote the application of the Convention in atypical employment relationships or to ensure that part-time employment is not disproportionately under-remunerated in relation to full-time employment.

3.  In respect of the public administration, the Government states that there is an influx of women into the public services in percentages of higher than 50 per cent. According to the report, women now occupy 48.16 per cent of posts in the government administration. The Government indicates, however, that women are still under-represented in managerial positions. In 1999, women occupied 22.4 per cent of managerial positions in central government and 24.5 per cent of such posts in local government. The Committee asks the Government to supply information, including statistical data, on the distribution of men and women in the different sectors and at the different levels of public administration. It notes from the report the measures adopted by the Government and the social partners to reinforce the policy of gender mainstreaming and to promote the presence of women in decision-making positions. The Committee asks the Government to supply information on measures taken to promote women’s access to more senior managerial positions of greater decision-making authority in the public sector, particularly on any training programmes designed to enable women to advance in public sector employment.

4.  The Committee notes that the National Commission on Equality has commissioned a survey of wage differentials in Italy, disaggregated by gender. Noting that the results of the survey will be available in early 2001, the Committee asks the Government to forward a copy with its next report.

5.  With respect to its previous comments on Directive 27/3/97, which called for full enforcement of Act No. 125 of 1991, the Committee reiterates its request for information on the number of prosecutions carried out for violation of the Act involving indirect discrimination and the outcomes, as well as for copies of any jurisprudence issued relevant to application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value.

6.  In its previous comments on the Government’s efforts to curtail the caporolato scheme of illegal contracting, the Committee had noted section 1(3) of Act No. 196/97, which provided for the experimental use of temporary labour contracts in the agricultural sector. In this context, the Committee repeats its request that the Government provide information on the follow-up to the Senate Labour Commission Investigative Committee’s recommendations regarding strengthening the monitoring of violations of the principle of equal remuneration between men and women in the agricultural sector.