Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Solomon Islands (Ratification: 2012)

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Direct Request

2023
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Articles 1 to 4 of the Convention. Assessing and addressing the gender pay gap. With reference to its direct request under the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) on gender equality and occupational gender segregation, the Committee recalls that, on the whole, there is a lack of availability of up-to-date statistical information disaggregated by sex regarding the remuneration received by women and men, and their participation in both the formal and informal economy. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the fact that appropriate data and statistics are crucial in determining the nature, extent and causes of unequal remuneration, to set priorities and design appropriate measures, to monitor and evaluate the impact of such measures and making any necessary adjustments in order to better promote the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value (see 2012 General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, paragraph 891). The Committee asks once again the Government to provide information on any measures taken to: (i) collect and compile statistical information disaggregated by sex regarding the distribution of women and men in different occupational categories or sectors of the economy and on their respective levels of earnings, in the informal and formal economy; and (ii) conduct research or studies on the gender pay gap and its underlying causes. The Committee reminds the Government that it can avail itself of the technical assistance of the Office in this regard.

Articles 1, 2(2)(a) and 3. Equal remuneration for work of equal value. Definition of remuneration. Objective job evaluation. Legislative framework. The Committee recalls that, both in the public and the private sectors, there are no legal provisions giving effect to the Convention, that is: (1) reflecting the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value; (2) providing for a broad definition of “ remuneration” to encompass not only wages but any additional emoluments whatsoever payable directly or indirectly, whether in cash or in kind, by the employer to the worker and arising out of the worker’s employment; and (3) providing for any kind of objective job evaluation to ensure equal remuneration. With respect to both the private and the public sectors, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on any measures taken to: (i) give full legislative expression to the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value; (ii) introduce a broad definition of the term “remuneration” in line with Article 1(a) of the Convention; and (iii) introduce provisions promoting the use of objective job evaluation methods free from gender bias to fully implement the principle of the Convention.

Article 2. Minimum wage. The Committee recalls that as women generally predominate in low-wage employment, an increase of the minimum wage may have a positive impact on raising their wage and reducing the gender pay gap. The Committee therefore welcomes the Government’s indication that the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2020 came into effect and the minimum wage has been doubled. The Committee notes that, according to the Government’s report, the minimum wage applies across all sectors. It observes however that the previous minimum rate for those employed in the fishing and agricultural sectors – in which women outnumber men – was different than the rate for “all workers”. The Government adds that the minimum wage is promoted through awareness talks to employers and sometimes labour surveys and labour inspectors ensure it is applied to all workers. The Committee asks the Government: (i) to confirm that there are two minimum wage rates (one for “all workers” and one for those employed in the fishing and agricultural sectors) and, if so, to explain the reasons for these different rates; (ii) to continue to provide information on any development regarding the minimum wage; and (iii) if possible, provide data disaggregated by sex on the number of workers covered by the minimum wage and on the impact of its significant increase on women’s remuneration.

Article 4. Cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee asks once again the Government to provide information on: (i) the composition and mandate of any tripartite body put in place; and (ii) any initiatives undertaken by this body or by workers’ and employers’ organizations with a view to promoting the principle of the Convention.

Awareness raising and enforcement. The Committee asks once again the Government to provide detailed information on any measures taken or envisaged to raise awareness of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value among labour inspectors, government officials, workers, employers, judges and the public in general. It also asks the Government to provide information on any cases of unequal remuneration between men and women reported to or detected by the labour inspectors or dealt with by the courts.