Observación (CEACR) - Adopción: 2009, Publicación: 99ª reunión CIT (2010)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read in relevant parts as follows:

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Legislative developments. ... The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the implementation and enforcement of section 137 of the new Labour Code, including information on the measures taken or envisaged to raise awareness of these provisions among workers and employers and their representatives and public officials responsible for the enforcement of the labour legislation. In this regard, the Committee also asks the Government to provide information on whether any cases concerning section 137 have been dealt with by the responsible authorities and the manner in which they have been resolved, including any remedies provided or sanctions imposed.

Article 2(c). Collective bargaining. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that salaries in the private sector are determined by way of collective agreements. Section 258 of the new Labour Code provides that collective agreements may determine the salary applicable to each occupational category. Section 259(4) provides that collective agreements cannot change the modalities of the application of the principle of “equal salary for equal work”, irrespective of the origin, sex or age of the worker. The Committee notes that section 259 is not in conformity with the Convention as it refers to equal salary for equal work rather than to equal salary for work of equal value, and is also at variance with section 137 of the Labour Code. The Committee asks the Government to take the steps necessary to amend section 259(4) to bring it into alignment with the provisions of section 137 and to bring it into conformity with the Convention.  The Committee also asks the Government to provide examples of collective agreements, as well as indications as to how the agreements implement the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value.

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

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