Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Costa Rica (Ratification: 1960)

The Committee takes notes of the information provided by the Government in its report and the attached annexes.

1. The Committee notes that, according to the ILO’s labour statistics for 2000, the average wage for women in all sectors of economic activity was 84 per cent of the level for men, representing an increase in the percentage difference between men and women since 1997 which was greater than the increase of the previous year. The Committee asks the Government to provide information with regard to the reasons for this increase and the measures taken to eliminate wage differences and promote application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value.

2. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on measures taken within the national policy for gender equality and equity to promote and guarantee the principle of equal remuneration. Please also indicate any relevant activities being undertaken by the National Women’s Institute to this end.

3. With respect to the fixing of minimum wages, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information regarding the minimum wage applicable in the export processing zones of the country.

4. The Committee notes that the Government’s report does not contain any reply to several of its previous comments and hopes that in the next report full information will be provided concerning the issues raised in its previous direct request regarding the following points.

Regarding the wage scales applicable in the public service, the Committee notes that the wage scale makes no difference or distinction whatsoever based on sex, but evaluates jobs on the basis of the activity or content thereof, in conformity with Article 3 of the Convention (see the 1986 General Survey on equal remuneration, paragraph 21). The Committee asks the Government to supply information, including statistics, on the distribution of men and women in the public service, disaggregated by rank and occupation.

The Committee would be grateful to continue receiving information on the activities of the National Directorate of the General Labour Inspection, in particular on the number of inspections carried out in respect of equal remuneration, the infringements reported and the measures taken accordingly.