Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Hungary (Ratification: 1956)

The Committee notes the report of the Government and the attached documentation.

1. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that according to data from the National Employment Office for 2002, the salaries of women in the private sector were 12.5 per cent lower than those of men working "in comparable jobs", down from 12.7 per cent in 2001. For the public sector, the differential was 14.4 per cent in 2002, up from 11.6 per cent in 2000 and 14.5 per cent in 2001. According to statistical data compiled by the ILO, the overall differential of monthly earnings of men and women was 18.7 per cent for 2001. ILO data also indicates that differentials are much higher than average in some specific fields of economic activity, such as manufacturing (28.6 per cent) and financial services (47.8 per cent). The Committee asks the Government to elaborate on the method used to establish the gender wage differentials, particularly explaining which jobs are being considered comparable and on what basis. The Government is also asked to make every effort to submit full statistical information on the earnings of men and women as outlined in the Committee’s general observation of 1998 and to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to examine the causes of the gender wage gap, particularly in those sectors where it remains very wide or has recently widened, and on measures undertaken to reduce it.

2. The Committee notes with interest that the position of minister without portfolio charged with promoting the principle of equality, including equal pay for men and women for work of equal value, was created in May 2003 by Presidential Decree No. 48/2002. The Committee looks forward to receiving information on the minister’s activities promoting the application of the Convention. Please also continue to provide information on the relevant activities of other competent bodies and institutions, including the Women’s Representative Council, and the National Interest Reconciliation Council.

3. With respect to enforcement of the legislation relevant to the application of the Convention, the Committee notes that the National Occupational Safety and Labour Inspectorate is only authorized to take action following receipt of an application from a person whose rights have allegedly been infringed. According to the Government no report has been filed so far with the Inspectorate concerning section 142/A, which spells out the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value. The Committee asks the Government to indicate any measures taken, including in cooperation with the social partners, to promote awareness of equality issues and on the available remedies among the working population. Noting from the Government’s report that court cases dealing with women’s employment have decreased in previous years, the Government is asked to clarify whether any of those cases involved questions of equal remuneration as required under the Labour Code. Please also continue to provide information on the relevant activities of the National Occupational Safety and Labour Inspectorate, including the number of applications received involving equal pay issues.

4. Finally, the Committee thanks the Government for providing the text of the collective agreement for the bakery industry. The Government is kindly requested to provide additional examples of collective agreements containing classification rules, which the Committee will examine together at its next session.