Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Iceland (Ratification: 1958)

With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest the information supplied by the Government in its report, particularly describing the measures taken to reduce the persisting wage differentials between men and women.

1. The Committee notes that, in May 1993, Parliament approved a resolution introducing a four-year (1993-97) Plan of Action for Measures to Establish Equality between Women and Men. This was done under the 1991 Act on the Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men. From the copy of the Plan, supplied by the Government, the Committee notes, in particular, that (i) the Ministry of Social Affairs is to conduct a detailed survey of the wages and the terms and conditions of employment of men and women employed in five large governmental bodies using an improved methodology; (ii) a systematic evaluation of jobs performed by government employees is to be carried out in accordance with section 4 of the 1991 Act; (iii) an equality counsellor will be appointed for the four years of the Plan on a trial basis, to work generally towards improving the position of women in enterprises and institutions and to cooperate with employment counsellors in an effort to increase the number of job opportunities for women; and (iv) regular detailed statistics, including data on income by economic activities and occupations, and sex, will continue to be published by the National Economic Institute.

The Committee asks the Government to supply, in its next report, a copy of the findings of the public sector wages survey, due to be completed in June 1994. It also asks to be kept informed of the activities undertaken in the framework of the Plan, especially those mentioned above, which have a bearing on the implementation of the principle of the Convention.

2. The Committee also notes from the Government's report that, in accordance with section 16(10) of the above-mentioned 1991 Act, the Equal Status Council is to convene a congress on equality at least every three years. The first such congress was held in October 1993 and addressed issues relevant to the principle of this Convention, namely job assessment as an instrument in the campaign for equal wages and the causes of gender-specific wage differentials. The Government states that it will send a detailed account of the findings of the congress with its next report. The Committee looks forward to receiving this information.