Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Zambia (Ratification: 1972)

1. Article 2 of the Convention. Application in practice. The Committee recalls the comments made by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) of 23 October 2002 stating that women are disadvantaged in terms of remuneration and that de facto inequalities exist with regard to credit facilities which require husbands to co-sign for their wives’ credit applications. In its report, the Government contests the allegation that women were disadvantaged in terms of remuneration, indicating that conditions of service apply equally to men and women. With regard to access to credit facilities, the Government states that a co-signature of the husband was required only where property jointly owned by the spouses was to serve as a security for the credit. While noting this information, the Committee nevertheless encourages the Government, in cooperation with social partners, to take measures to promote the practical application of the Convention, including through awareness-raising and training activities concerning the meaning and implications of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. Please provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to this end and also indicate whether any specific measures to promote equal remuneration are envisaged under the National Gender Policy, such as the promotion of objective job evaluation. Further, the Committee asks the Government to indicate whether the competent authorities have dealt with any complaints concerning unequal remuneration for men and women.

2. Collective agreements. The Committee notes that examples of collective agreements referred to in the Government’s report were not attached. It asks the Government to provide these collective agreements with its next report.

3. Statistical information. The Committee notes that the Government undertook a labour force survey in 2005 and that a labour market information system was being established. The Committee asks the Government to ensure that the data concerning earnings available through the information system is disaggregated by sex and that it allows for an assessment of the gender pay gap in the different sectors, industries and occupations. Please provide information on the progress made in establishing the labour market information system and provide, as soon as possible, detailed information on the earnings of men and women, as far as possible in accordance with the Committee’s 1998 general observation on this Convention.