Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

1. The Committee notes that, according to statements issued in 2000 by the General Secretary of the National Women’s Institute, an agency of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the average earnings of female workers in Spain represents 71 per cent of the average earnings of male workers. It further  notes that, according to studies carried out in 2000 by the General Union of Workers (UGT) and the Trade Union Federation of Workers’ Commissions (CC.OO.), women’s average earnings are between 76 to 78 per cent of men’s average earnings. The Committee notes that, according to the information contained in section 3 of the chapter on "Economy and Employment Issues of the Third Plan for Equality of Opportunity and Treatment between Men and Women 1997-2000", approved by Accord of the Council of Ministers on 7 March 1997, the statistical data available indicated that women were still not participating in paid employment at the same rate as men, given that their contracts of employment provide less benefits, their remuneration is less for work of equal value, and they occupy few decision making jobs. The Plan indicates that in 1994, women’s annual average salary was 71.54 per cent of men’s corresponding salary. The Committee notes that the statistics supplied by the Government in its report concerning salary increases agreed upon by sector of economic activity are not disaggregated by sex. Therefore, the Committee is unable to assess the actual wage gap. It asks the Government to provide the fullest statistical information possible, disaggregated by sex in accordance with its 1998 general observation. Please also provide a copy of the study "Employment and salary discrimination: An analysis from a gender perspective" issued in 2000.

2. The Committee notes the Government’s statements concerning the measures adopted through social dialogue in order to improve stability in employment. It asks the Government to supply concrete information regarding the progress achieved in the context of measures 3.1.7 of the Third Plan for  Equality of Opportunity and Treatment between Men and Women 1997-2000, which called for "collaboration with workers’ and employers’ organizations and the establishment of strategies with the relevant government officials in order to guarantee the effective application of the right to equal remuneration between men and women for work of equal value".