Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Article 1 of the Convention. Work of equal value. The Committee has been referring for a number of years to the fact that the definition of “work of equal value” provided for in section 2(a) of the Labour Act as meaning “work that involves similar or substantially similar skills, duties, responsibilities and conditions” could unduly restrict the scope of comparison of jobs performed by men and women and has therefore requested the Government to amend the provision. Noting the Government’s indication that the Labour Act is in the process of being amended, and thus the amendment of section 2(a) will be considered, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on any developments concerning the amendment of section 2(a), which will ensure that the concept of work of equal value is expressed in section 5(2a) in terms consistent with the Convention and not in a restrictive manner.

Article 3. Job evaluation. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide updated information on the measures taken to promote the development and use of objective job evaluation methods in the private and public sectors. It asks the Government to provide more detailed information on how it promotes gender-sensitive job evaluation in the context of the National Gender Policy.

Enforcement. Recalling the importance of raising awareness of the legislation among workers and employers and their organizations, the Committee asks the Government to indicate any measures taken in this regard and to continue to provide information on any administrative or judicial decisions concerning equal remuneration under section 5(2a).

Statistical information. The Committee asks the Government to continue to make every effort to strengthen the collection, processing and analysis of data concerning the remuneration received by men and women with a view to assessing the nature, extent and causes of the existing pay differences between men and women in all job categories and between the various sectors. Please indicate any progress made in this regard.