Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Saint Lucia (Ratification: 1983)

The Committee notes with deep concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It expects that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments. The Committee informs the Government that, if it has not supplied replies to the points raised by 1 September 2020, then it may proceed with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the information at its disposal at its next session.

Repetition

Minimum wages. The Committee hopes that the new Minimum Wage Commission will ensure and promote the application of the Convention, and asks the Government to submit a copy of the report of the Minimum Wage Commission.

Objective job evaluation. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the evaluation methods used in consultation with trade unions are aimed at addressing grades and scales to ensure that pay is a reflection of the work done. In some cases, this had led to increases in women’s wages; for example, in the town and village council where, apparently, pay differentials existed, trade unions have assisted management in correcting this inequality. The Committee asks the Government to provide further details on the criteria used in the context of the job evaluation exercises in the town and village council, including the measures taken to ensure that the methods used are free from gender bias. Please continue to provide examples of job evaluation exercises in private and public sector establishments, where available, and an indication on whether these have had an impact on reducing existing wage differentials between men and women.

Labour inspection. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the Labour Department is in the process of enhancing the labour inspection programme with a view to improving its effectiveness in enforcing principles of equality. Please provide further details on the specific activities undertaken to increase the awareness and capacity of the labour inspection services to enforce and promote the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value contained in the Equality of Opportunity and Treatment Act.

Agricultural sector, including banana plantations. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that remuneration in the agricultural sector is generally determined by task and availability of labour. Labour-intensive tasks are usually higher paid and generally attract male workers; tasks done by both male and female workers are paid the same. The Committee recalls that the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value includes but goes beyond equal remuneration for “equal”, the “same” or “similar” work, and also encompasses work that is of an entirely different nature, which is nevertheless of equal value. It draws the attention of the Government to the fact that in order to establish whether different jobs are of equal value, there has to be an examination of the respective tasks involved. This examination must be undertaken on the basis of entirely objective and non discriminatory criteria to avoid an assessment being tainted by gender bias. Particular care must be taken to ensure that skills considered to be “female” are not undervalued or even overlooked, in comparison with traditionally “male” skills, such as labour-intensive work or heavy lifting. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that the criteria used and weighing of factors to determine wages in the agricultural sector are non-discriminatory and free from gender bias. It also encourages the Government to take steps to eliminate any stereotyped assumptions regarding women’s ambitions, preferences and capabilities, tending to exclude them from higher paid jobs in the agricultural sector, and to report on the progress made in this regard.

Statistics. The Committee notes, once again, the absence in the Government’s report of any statistics disaggregated by sex regarding workers at different grades or wage scales. The Committee asks the Government to take concrete steps to put in place a system for the collection and analysis of statistics, disaggregated by sex, in line with the Committee’s 1998 general observation on this matter, and to report on the progress made in this regard.