Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Tunisia (Ratification: 1968)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Equal remuneration for work of equal value. Legislation. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that section 5bis of the Labour Code establishes, in general, the principle of equality between men and women and that the Government had indicated that the general regulations of the public service and the general regulations pertaining to employees in public enterprises also recognized this principle. It reminded the Government that although these provisions are important in the context of equal remuneration, they are not sufficient to give full effect to the principle of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government’s report once again refers to the abovementioned provisions of national legislation. It also notes that article 40 of the new Constitution, adopted on 26 January 2014, stipulates that “all citizens have the right to work in favourable conditions and with a fair living wage”. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the fact that if the right to a fair living wage or the general prohibition on sex-based wage discrimination constitute important prerequisites for the application of the principle of the Convention, they are not sufficient as they do not capture the concept of “work of equal value” (see 2012 General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, paragraph 676). Recalling that it considers that the full and complete recognition in law of the principle of equal remuneration between men and women for work of equal value is of utmost importance to ensure the effective application of the Convention, the Committee trusts that the Government will take measures to fully integrate the principle of the Convention in its national legislation, in collaboration with the employers’ and workers’ organizations, particularly within the context of legislative reforms following the adoption of the new Constitution. The Committee requests the Government to ensure that the new legal provisions cover not only equal remuneration between men and women for work of equal value or performed in the same conditions, but also for work of an entirely different nature which is nevertheless of equal value within the meaning of the Convention. It requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in this regard, as well as on the manner in which the application of the principle of the Convention is ensured in practice. It also requests the Government to provide copies of any administrative or judicial decisions issued on the matter.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.