Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - French Polynesia

The Committee notes that the Government's report contains no reply to its previous comments. It hopes that the next report will provide full information on the points raised in the previous direct request, which read as follows:

1. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that job classifications are established by collective agreements in accordance with levels of training and occupational knowledge, without distinction between male and female jobs, and that local orders carry out the occupational classification of workers in the various branches of activity, as necessary.

The Committee examined some of the above orders and noted that certain jobs appearing in the orders are entered in accordance with the sex of the person holding them. After noting, from the Government's statements, that the territory was not yet ready to establish new terminologies for jobs and occupations, it requested the Government to take measures to encourage the social partners to revise the job classification system in order to base it on an objective appraisal of the work to be performed with a view to promoting the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value, in accordance with Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention.

In its last report, the Government indicates that such a revision could be examined within the framework of the tripartite agreement between the territorial government and employers' and workers' organisations that was signed on 10 July 1984. This agreement seeks to create a high-level territorial committee for co-ordination and consultation in the field of employment, vocational training and social promotion.

The Committee notes this information with interest and hopes that the next report will contain information on any measures taken in this respect. The Committee also requests the Government, as it has in t he past, to transmit copies of the most recent collective agreements and of local orders issued concerning occupational classifications.

2. The Committee also notes that the Bill respecting the general principles of labour law and the organisation and operation of the labour inspectorate and labour tribunals in French Polynesia was submitted to the Senate some time ago. The Committee hopes that the Government will not fail to transmit a copy of this as soon as it is enacted, as it stated it would in its report.

3. The Committee also refers to section 91 of the Labour Code (overseas territories) which requires, in order to apply the principle of equal remuneration, "equal conditions, as regards work, skill and output", whereas in the terms of the Convention equal remuneration for men and women workers shall be provided for work of "equal value". (In this connection please see the explanations given in paragraphs 20 to 23 and 52 to 70 of the Committee's General Survey of 1986 on Equal Remuneration.)

The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate how effect is given to the principles set forth in the Convention, particularly in cases where in practice men and women perform work of a different nature but of equal value.