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Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Tajikistan (RATIFICATION: 1993)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report once again contains no information in response to a number of its previous comments. The Committee wishes to reiterate that without the necessary information, it is not in a position to assess the effective implementation of the Convention, including any progress achieved since its ratification. The Committee hopes that the next report will contain full information on the issues raised below.

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Gender wage gap. Private sector. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the persistence of both the gender wage gap and occupational gender segregation. It also noted that agricultural workers were still paid the lowest wage in the economy (367.59 Tajikistani Somoni (TJS) for men and TJS211.34 for women, approximately US$39 and $22 respectively) and that women were concentrated in the informal economy and in low-paid jobs. The Committee therefore requested that the Government step up its efforts to address the gender wage gap, particularly in the agricultural sector, and that it provide information on the measures taken in this regard. It also requested that the Government provide information on the measures taken to improve access of women to a wider range of job opportunities at all levels to address the occupational gender segregation. The Committee notes, from the Government’s report, the adoption of a national strategy to enhance the role of women and girls 2011–20 and a state programme on the education, selection and appointment of managerial positions in the Republic of Tajikistan from among capable women and girls 2007–16. With regard to the fact that workers with the lowest paid jobs are found in the agricultural sector, the Government indicates that trade unions intend to make proposals to amend the General Agreement for the period 2018–20. The Government also indicates, in its report on the application of the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), that as a result of the state programme, in 2017, 1,002 women in need of special social protection were provided with employment and that 528 entrepreneurial initiatives from women received financial assistance. Further, the Committee notes, from the Government’s sixth periodic report submitted under the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the establishment of presidential grants to support and develop women’s entrepreneurial activities in 2016–20, the Plan of Action of the National Strategy on promoting the role of women 2015–20 and the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period up to 2030, which includes a special section addressing existing problems of inequality and discrimination, particularly for women in rural areas, and ways of resolving them (CEDAW/C/TJK/6, 2 November 2017, paragraph 136). The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the measures taken in the framework of the abovementioned policies to improve the access of women, especially women in rural areas, to job opportunities at all levels, including as managers of farms, and on the impact of such measures. The Committee further requests the Government to pursue its efforts to address the gender wage gap, particularly in the agricultural sector, and to provide information on the measures taken in this regard and the results obtained with regard to achieving pay equity. Finally, noting the absence of information provided in this regard, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed and up-to-date statistics on wages of women and men, including sex disaggregated data by industry and occupational category.

Civil service. In the absence of any information provided in this regard, the Committee once again requests the Government to indicate how it ensures equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value in the civil service in practice and to provide statistical information disaggregated by sex on the distribution of men and women in the various occupations and grades in the civil service, and their corresponding earnings.

Article 2. Legislation. In its previous comments, the Committee asked the Government to clarify whether section 102 of the Labour Code and section 13 of the Framework Law on State Guarantees of Equal Rights for Men and Women and Equal Opportunities in the Exercise of such Rights, No. 89 of 1 March 2005, both provided for equal pay for “work of equal value” or for “equal work”. The Committee takes due note that the wording of section 140 of the new Labour Code 2017 and section 13 of the above-mentioned Framework Law of 2005 both guarantee equal remuneration for work of equal value. Noting however that, once again, the report is silent on the application of these provisions in practice, the Committee stresses that the continued persistence of significant gender pay gaps requires that governments, along with employers’ and workers’ organizations take measures to raise awareness, make assessments, and promote and enforce the application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value (see 2012 General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, paragraph 669). Consequently, the Committee reiterates its request to the Government that it provide information on the practical application of section 140 of the Labour Code 2017 and section 13 of Framework Law No. 89 of 1 March 2005.

Article 3. Wage determination. The Committee previously noted the adoption of Government Decree No. 98 of 5 March 2008, to approve the concept of wage reforms in the Republic of Tajikistan, which provides, among others, for mechanisms of state regulation of wage determination. In this context, it requested the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value is being taken into account. The Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information in this regard. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value is being taken into account in the context of state regulation of wage determination.

Article 4. Collective agreements. The Committee previously requested the Government to provide examples of collective agreements covering different sectors, to indicate how these agreements promote the principle of equal pay for work of equal value, and to indicate the percentage of the workforce covered by collective agreements. The Committee takes note of the Government’s indication that there are 20 sectorial trade union committees covering all sectors of employment. The Government also indicates that trade union committees work with employers on basic wage agreements and collective agreements. While taking due note of the information provided, the Committee notes that the Government does not indicate how collective agreements promote the principle of the Convention. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide examples of collective agreements covering different sectors and to indicate how these agreements promote the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. It also requests the Government to indicate the percentage of the workforce covered by collective agreements, disaggregated by sex.

Enforcement. The Committee previously noted that a Coordinating Council on Gender Issues has been established in the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the State Labour Inspectorate to monitor discrimination against women in the labour market and requested the Government to provide information on its activities regarding equal remuneration for men and women. The Committee also requested the Government to provide information on cases of violations of the principle of equal remuneration dealt by the labour inspectorate or the courts. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that no complaints regarding remuneration have been recorded. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the Coordinating Council on Gender Issues to monitor sex-based discrimination regarding remuneration. With regard to the lack of complaints, the Committee refers the Government to its comments under Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) and requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that the principle of the Convention is enforced by the courts and the labour inspectorate. Once again, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the number of violations of section 140 of the Labour Code dealt with by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection and the State Labour Inspectorate, and indicate whether the courts have dealt with any cases concerning the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value.