Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

1. Article 1(b) of the Convention. Equal remuneration for work of equal value. With reference to its previous comments regarding the meaning of "equal pay and allowances for the same work" in section 47(2) of the Labour Code of 20 July 1998 and the application of the principle of the Convention in practice, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that Act No. 8/1998 of 20 July 1998 is under review. It hopes that the Government will take the opportunity to amend section 47(2) to incorporate the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value, and asks the Government to provide information on any developments in this regard.

2. Article 2. Progress made in the application of equal remuneration. With regard to equal remuneration between men and women in the agricultural sector, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that factors contributing to the low percentage of women occupying managerial or administrative posts in this sector include the fact that few women have higher education and that many women marry before reaching secondary or higher education. The Government adds that it is making every effort to remedy the wage disparity between men and women, and that it has taken measures to promote access to education and training for women in spheres traditionally dominated by men, and to promote their access to managerial and administrative positions. Further, in this context, the Committee notes Government regulation No. 75/2004 of 28 April 2004 setting the national minimum wages respectively for the agricultural and fishing sector and the industrial, commercial and other sectors of activities. Noting the lower minimum wages for the agricultural sector and the fact that the overwhelming majority of the women work in this sector, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on the progress made with regard to initiatives to promote women’s access to jobs outside the agricultural sectors and to increase their participation in secondary and higher education as well as occupational training and guidance. Please also provide concrete up-to-date information on the number of women who have benefited from training in non-traditional jobs as well as the number of women who have been appointed to managerial positions, including in the agricultural sector, as a result of training.

3. Part V of the report form. Statistics. On several occasions, the Committee has asked for different types of statistics that would enable it to compare the average remuneration of men and women employed at various levels and job categories in the public and private sectors. While the Government has provided statistics in the past, for which the Committee is thankful, these statistics were often incomplete, not disaggregated by sex or not up to date. The Committee once again recalls the importance of compiling and analysing labour statistics regarding levels of remuneration, disaggregated by sex, as a means of promoting and assessing the application of the Convention. The Government is asked to provide information on the measures taken and the progress made with regard to gathering such labour statistics as outlined in its general observation of 1998, and to supply such statistics in its next report. Noting the wage scales attached to the collective agreement adopted in 2003 for the "Companhia Industrial da Matola", please also provide, if feasible, information on the number of men and women employed in the various wages scales covered by the agreement, as well as copies of any other collective agreements adopted recently.