Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

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

The Committee notes the Government’s reply to the observations made by the Confederation of Workers Rerum Novarum (CTRN).

Gender pay gap. The Committee recalls that in its comments the CTRN indicated that the average pay gap was 20 per cent (in sectors such as manufacturing, it reached 39 per cent), that women are those who are most widely engaged in part-time work and that two out of every ten women workers are engaged in domestic service. The Committee notes that the Government recognizes the existence of pay gaps between men and women in the various activities and sectors. The Government refers to the measures taken with a view to resolving this situation including, for example, the National Campaign for Compliance with Minimum Wages, which seeks a better distribution of wealth, and training and vocational skills activities so that women can have access to jobs in which there has been a lower level of female participation. The Committee also notes the statistical data provided by the Government, indicating that women’s participation in the labour market is considerably lower than that of men, and that there exists significant occupational segregation. The Committee requests the Government to continue taking measures with a view to increasing the participation of women in the labour market and improving vocational training for women in careers traditionally followed by men. The Committee requests the Government to provide specific information on the impact of these measures in terms of reducing the gender pay gap.

Application in practice. The Committee requests the Government to provide specific information on the awareness-raising measures undertaken with a view to reducing occupational sex segregation and the gender pay gap and giving full effect to the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value, as set forth in the Convention.