Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to its previous comments. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous observation, which read as follows:

1. Application of the principle in the civil service. For a number of years, the Committee has been asking the Government to provide statistical information disaggregated by sex that would enable it to assess the application of the Convention in the civil service. The Committee notes that a new civil service job grades and salary structure came into effect in October 2004 which consists of 18 grades and salary scales, ranging from A (the highest) to R (the lowest). It also notes with some regret that the Government continues to provide its previous explanations that it is not possible to provide sex-disaggregated statistics on the civil service because salaries apply across the board and therefore apply equally to men and women. At the same time, the Government indicates that women occupy only 14.3 per cent of managerial positions in the civil service from grades S4/P4 and above, which, under the new system, correspond to grades “E” to “A”. Noting the low percentage of women holding managerial posts, the Committee points out once again that one of the causes of pay differentials between men and women is horizontal and vertical occupational segregation of women into lower paying jobs or occupations and lower positions without promotion opportunities. The Committee also points out that statistical information on the employment of women and men according to occupational groups, and their corresponding salary levels, is essential to allow an adequate evaluation of the nature, extent and causes of the pay differentials between men and women. It therefore asks the Government:

(a)   to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to promote the principles of the Convention through policies aimed at labour market desegregation (e.g. promoting equal access of women to all occupations and economic sectors and to jobs with decision-making and management responsibilities), and their impact on reducing the remuneration gap between men and women; and

(b)    to provide statistical information, disaggregated by sex, on the participation of men and women in employment in all the different grades of the public service, and their corresponding salary levels.

2. Wage disparities between men and women in rural areas. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to its previous observation in which it had commented on the communication submitted by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), now International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), concerning the discrimination faced by rural women. It had also noted the Government’s indication that some wage disparities existed between men and women workers in rural areas and that in some cases employers were paying employees less than the recommended statutory minimum wage. In this regard, the Committee had referred to the need to take measures to inform employers and men and women in rural areas about the requirements of the Convention and the national legislation concerning equal pay. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the labour inspectors have taken on this task and that there are no wage differences between men and women in rural areas. The Government further explains that Malawi has a two-tier minimum wage system which applies to all sectors but that no minimum wages have been set for the agricultural sector. Moreover, in most agricultural undertakings women prefer to work fewer hours than men because of family and household responsibilities.

3. The Committee reminds the Government that the minimum wage is a significant means of ensuring the application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. Furthermore, it wishes to emphasize the importance of promoting measures to facilitate reconciliation of work and family responsibilities and the equal sharing of family responsibilities between men and women in order to promote the application of the Convention. Accordingly, the Committee asks the Government:

(a)   to indicate whether it intends to establish a minimum wage for the agricultural sector or to adopt any other appropriate measures in order to ensure improved application of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value for men and women workers in this sector;

(b)    to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to assist rural women in reconciling their work and family responsibilities and to promote a more equitable sharing of family responsibilities between men and women workers; and

(c)    to provide statistical data, disaggregated by sex, on the number of men and women employed in agricultural undertakings, and their corresponding occupations, earning levels and hours of work, and to continue to keep the Committee informed of any wage disparities between men and women reported by the labour inspection services in remote rural areas, and the corrective action taken.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.