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Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Mexico (RATIFICATION: 1952)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, including the statistical information and sample collective agreement.

1. Referring to its previous comments concerning the disproportionately low number of women employed at the higher paid levels of the Federal Public Administration (APF) in Mexico, the Committee reiterates its request that the Government indicate the measures taken or contemplated to promote a greater participation of women in the public and private sector workforce, as well as the measures taken or contemplated to reduce vertical occupational segregation, with particular attention to the APF. The Government is also asked to provide up-to-date statistical information in its next report on the distribution of men and women in the different sectors and at the different levels of the APF and on their earnings, disaggregated by sex.

2. The Committee notes from statistical information provided in the Government’s report under the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), that as of June 1999, women made up 49 per cent of the labour force in the maquiladora industry. However, the figures indicate that women are concentrated at the lowest pay scales in that industry, with women occupying 22 per cent of managerial jobs in comparison with 55 per cent of general labourer jobs. Further, women earn less than men at all levels of the maquiladora industry, earning approximately 79 per cent of men’s overall average earnings. The Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on the measures taken or contemplated to reduce the male-female earnings gap in the maquiladora industry. Please also provide updated statistical information on the distribution of men and women in the different sectors of the Mexican economy (including the maquiladora industry) and their average daily earnings, disaggregated by sex.

3. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that a National Seminar on Equity in Employment was held on 7 October 1998 at which different sectors of society made proposals with the aim of adapting the labour legislation to changing social conditions and to women’s present-day working conditions. The Committee also notes the Seminar on Women and Labour Legislation held by the Bicameral Committee of the Women’s Parliament on 2 February 1999 to analyse the legislation relevant to women workers. The Committee would appreciate receiving information on any follow-up action taken as a result of these seminars, as well as on other measures taken relevant to application of the Convention.

4. Referring to its previous comments regarding collective agreements for enterprises in which women constituted a significant proportion of the labour force, such as air transport, educational services, medical services, and financial services, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that it does not have information on the numbers of women covered by such agreements. The Committee nevertheless asks the Government to provide information on the distribution of men and women in the different occupations and at the different levels of employment in the relevant enterprises. The Committee also notes the sample collective agreement supplied by the Government which expresses the principle of equal pay for equal work, without regard to sex or nationality.

5. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, during the reporting period, federal labour inspectors carried out 14,580 inspections of working conditions (including remuneration) of enterprises subject to federal jurisdiction and found no violations of the Convention. In this regard, the Government is asked to supply information on any specialized training provided to the federal labour inspectors in relation to the detection and investigation of equal remuneration matters.

6. The Committee notes the figures contained in the report indicating the number of cases  handled by the Office of the Federal Labour Defender in 1999 and 2000 relevant to the application of the principle of the Convention. The Committee would appreciate receiving information regarding the nature of the equal remuneration claims presented, and their outcomes.

7. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the Integrated System for the Administration of Human Resources in the Federal Public Administration (SIARH) is being established and operated by the Ministry of  the Treasury and Public Credit (Hacienda) with the aim of improving the registration and management of data on the age, sex, salary and occupational levels of employees in the APF. The Committee asks the Government to keep it informed of the progress made in implementing the SIARH system, and to provide, in its next report, statistical information acquired through use of the SIARH system.