Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2020, 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 is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments. The Committee informs the Government that, if it has not supplied replies to the points raised by 1 September 2021, 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

Article 1(a) of the Convention. Definition of remuneration. The Committee recalls that the Equality of Opportunity and Treatment in Employment and Occupation Act, 2000, contains no definition of the term “remuneration”. The Committee notes the adoption of the Labour Code (Amendment) Act No. 6 of 2011, which amends section 95 of the Labour Code of 2006 to include the definition of “total remuneration” as “all basic wages which the employee is paid or is entitled to be paid by his or her employer in respect of labour performed or services rendered by him or her for his or her employer during that period of employment”. The Committee notes that section 2 of the Labour Code, continues to exclude overtime payments, commissions, service charges, lodging, holiday pay and other allowances from the definition of wages. The Committee recalls that the Convention sets out a very broad definition of “remuneration” in Article 1(a) which includes not only “the ordinary, basic or minimum wage or salary” but also “any additional emoluments whatsoever payable directly or indirectly, whether in cash or in kind, by the employer to the worker and arising out of the worker’s employment” (see 2012 General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, paragraph 686). The Committee asks the Government to take the necessary measures to further amend section 95 of the Labour Code in order to ensure that at least for the purposes of the application of the principle of the Convention the concept of remuneration covers not only the basic wages, but also any additional benefit or allowance arising out of the worker’s employment.

Different wages and benefits for women and men. The Committee notes with regret that despite the Government’s previous announcement in this respect, the Labour Code (Amendment) Act No. 6 of 2011 does not repeal the existing laws and regulations establishing differential wage rates for men and women, nor does it revoke the Contract of Service Act which provides for different ages for men and women with respect to entitlement to severance pay. The Committee urges the Government to take measures without delay to ensure that all laws and regulations are repealed which contain differential wages for men and women, as well as the Contract of Service Act, which provides for different ages for men and women with respect to entitlement to severance pay. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any development in this regard.

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

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.