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

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

1. Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention. The Committee notes the activities conducted by the National Institute for Women (INAMU) and the Gender Equity Unit of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, in particular to reduce the sectoral and occupational segregation of women in the labour market. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on such activities and on their practical outcomes.

2. Article 2, paragraph 2(a). With reference to point 1 of its previous direct request, in which it referred to the possibility of amending a provision of the Labour Code, the Committee points out that the general principle of equality before the law cannot on its own ensure equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. As the Committee observed in its previous comments the Convention is broader in scope than the abovementioned provision since it does not confine itself to comparing “equal” jobs but also covers jobs which have the same “value”. The Committee hopes that in its next report the Government will be in a position to provide information on progress made in amending the Labour Code to bring it into full conformity with the Convention.

3. Complaints. With regard to the outcome of the application of section 3(e) of Decree No. 30392-MTSS, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that the Gender Unit has reported no complaints of discrimination on grounds of sex. It further notes that Presidential Directive No. 010-2003 empowers the labour inspectorate to investigate complaints of discrimination at work. The Committee accordingly asks the Government to keep it informed of the impact of the Decree on the application of the principle of the Convention.

4. “Information entry forms”. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that there has been no significant progress in implementing the “information entry forms” for classifying information by sector of activity and by sex. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would keep it informed of any progress in this matter.