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

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report.

1. The Committee notes that the draft Labour Code has still not been adopted and that it is currently being examined by the State Duma. It hopes that the new Labour Code will soon be adopted and that it will contain more detailed provisions to promote equal remuneration, in accordance with the Convention. Please supply a copy of the text upon its adoption.

2. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that there are still some discrepancies between the remuneration of men and women workers, due to men having higher qualifications and performing more highly qualified work. It notes the various promotional activities referred to by the Government to facilitate the access of women workers to more highly qualified and better paid employment, including: the provision of economic incentives and benefits to encourage the employment of women workers; the federal targeted programme to promote employment for 1998-2000 with special measures aimed at the promotion of women’s employment, including vocational training and guidance services; and the General Agreement for 2000-01 between the associations of trade unions, associations of employers and the Government, which provide for the elaboration of an Act setting out the main lines of state policy in the field of remuneration. It notes the Government’s statement that this Agreement will include plans and measures to eliminate the reasons why men perform more skilled work than women. The Committee trusts that the incentive measures to increase employment of women considered to be less competitive, do not compromise the principles of the Convention. It asks the Government to continue to take promotional measures to improve women’s position in the labour market and to ensure the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value and to report on the impact of such measures.

3. The Committee reiterates its direct request of 1999 to the Government to provide information respecting the activities of the labour inspectorate in relation to the application of the principle of equal remuneration to wages negotiated above the national minimum wage, especially in view of the provisions of Federal Act No. 109-FZ of 18 July 1995 to amend the Labour Code, which envisaged the strengthening of labour inspection and supervision of violations of labour legislation. It once again hopes that the Government will provide this information with its next report, including indications of the number of infringements reported and the penalties imposed.

4. The Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on wage scales in the public sector, as well as other statistical information in conformity with its general observation of 1998, enabling the Committee to assess the application of the Convention in both the public and private sectors.