Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

The Committee notes the brief report provided by the Government in reply to its previous comments and the attached publications.

In its previous comments, the Committee noted the adoption of the Act respecting equality of opportunities, published on 22 May 2000, to eliminate any type of discrimination against women and to achieve equality for men and women before the law. The Committee indicated to the Government that section 44 of this Act requires the payment of equal wages for equal work, provided that the job, the working day and the conditions respecting efficiency and seniority are also equal. The Committee reminded the Government that the Convention requires the establishment of equal remuneration for men and women workers "for work of equal value" and that in selecting the "value" of work as the basis for comparison between the work of men and women, the Convention has a broader meaning than equal remuneration for the same work. Noting the information provided by the Government in its report on the application of Convention No. 111, the Committee observes that the Act respecting equal opportunities for women is undergoing a process of amendment, and that the modifications are to be approved in 2004. The Committee asks the Government to amend section 44 during this revision process so that it fully applies the principle set out in the Convention, thereby making it possible to compare jobs that are different but of equal value.

The Committee is addressing a request directly to the Government on certain points.