Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

The Committee recalls that on 22 May 2008 it received a communication from the Honduran National Business Council (COHEP) providing information on the questions raised by the Committee and on the activities carried out by COHEP to contribute to the application of the Convention.

Wage gap. The Committee notes that the Gender Equality and Equity Plan II 2008–15 recognizes that “the wages of women under equal labour conditions and equal capacities only represent approximately 67.6 per cent of the average wage earned by men under the same conditions”. The Committee notes that the Gender Equality and Equity Plan II 2008–15 envisages the establishment of statutory and institutional machinery to guarantee compliance with the Convention (Strategic Objective 1.2). The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that a strategic effort has been made through the introduction of a gender perspective into the National Decent Employment Plan (PNED), through which it is hoped that the income gap between men and women will be reduced. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the specific measures adopted with a view to reducing the wage gap between men and women, including in the context of the IInd Gender Equality and Equity Plan 2008–15 and the PNED. The Committee also reiterates its request for information on the measures adopted in the framework of the National Institute for Women (INAM), the Secretariat of Labour and Social Security and the National Plan for Equality of Opportunity to promote the access of women to higher level jobs with higher remuneration and on the impact of these measures.

Minimum wages. As information on this subject was not included in the Government’s report, the Committee reiterates its request for information on the steps taken or envisaged to apply the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value in the fixing of minimum wages and on the manner in which it is ensured that, in jobs predominantly occupied by women, minimum wages are not lower than those fixed for work of equal value performed in jobs where men predominate.

Article 4 of the Convention. Collective agreements. The Committee notes that COHEP is not aware of the holding of discussions in the tripartite forums of the Economic and Social Council (CES) or in the National Convergence Forum (FONAC) on the subject of equal remuneration for men and women, and that this subject has not been included on the agenda of the Economic and Social Council. Noting that the Government has not provided information in its report on the measures adopted, in collaboration with the social partners, to promote the application through collective agreements of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value, the Committee hopes that the information requested will be provided in the next report.

Enforcement. The Committee notes that, according to COHEP’s communication, it has been agreed that joint inspections will be carried out in industrial parks with a view to determining whether unequal remuneration exists. The Committee also notes that the IInd Gender Equality and Equity Plan 2008–15 envisages the establishment of the legal and institutional conditions for organized women to carry out social audits to ensure compliance with their labour rights, and particularly the right to equal remuneration for work of equal value (Strategic Objective 1.3). The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the results and impact of the joint inspections carried out in industrial parks and on the initiative referred to above under the Gender Equality and Equity Plan for social audits to be carried out by organized women in order to ensure compliance with the right to equal remuneration for work of equal value.

Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the information provided by COHEP relating to the average earnings received in the manufacturing sector. The Committee notes that, according to the data provided by the Honduran Export Processing Association (AHM), in practice the average wage earned is higher than that agreed in minimum wage commissions, although it is not possible to detect from these figures whether there are wage differences between men and women. The Committee also notes that Executive Decision No. STSS 374 STSS08 on the adjustment on the minimum wage for 2009, which substantially increases the minimum wage, does not apply to the export processing sector (maquila). In view of the number of women working in this sector and the fact that the wages may be determined on the basis of the minimum rates established, the Committee considers that this exclusion may have a disproportionate impact on women. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the reasons for the exclusion of the export processing sector from the application of the adjustment of wage rates. The Committee also asks the Government once again to provide statistical data on the distribution of men and women by earnings level, economic activity, occupational group or level of education/skills and geographical area.