Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Uruguay (Ratification: 1989)

Articles 1 and 4 of the Convention. Gender wage gap. The Committee previously requested the Government to provide information on any measures adopted with a view to reducing the wage gap between men and women workers, including the measures adopted within the framework of the National Gender Equality Strategy 2030 and Act No. 19580 on gender-based violence against women, and any measures adopted with a view to addressing educational and occupational segregation between men and women, and the results achieved. The Committee notes that the Government: (1) reports that it has carried out awareness-raising activities, and information and educational campaigns relating to the Convention, through Government bodies, in particular the Tripartite Commission on Equality of Opportunity and Treatment in Employment (CTIOTE), coordinated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, and together with the National Institute for Women and the employer and worker sectors, aiming to overcome, improve and eliminate the gender pay gap; (2) recognizes that there are challenges to the professional advancement of women, known as the glass ceiling, which prevents them from accessing high-level positions in enterprises and institutions, and indicates that work continues in this area; (3) has attached gender statistics from 2019 and indicates that it is noted that women receive on average 76.3 per cent of what men receive (it considers that the gap is due to the fact that, on average, women work fewer paid hours than men as a result of the high burden of unpaid work that constitutes a barrier to the full integration of women in the labour market); (4) states that with regard to the analysis of the difference between women’s and men’s income, there are significant differences according to the branch of activity in which men and women are occupied; (5) indicates that women’s representation increased substantially in the legislative power owing to the Act on quotas; and (6) states that, in the University of the Republic, 54 per cent of the teaching posts are occupied by women and 46 per cent by men (it indicates that in the higher positions, women are less represented). With regard to the National Gender Equality Strategy 2030, the Government states that under the current administration new priority strategic lines are being defined aimed at achieving gender equality. Lastly, with regard to the application of Act No. 19580, the Government indicates that: (1) the National Institute for Women of the Ministry of Social Development has a gender-based violence response system; (2) the system is integrated into various mechanisms, which in turn are part of the interinstitutional comprehensive response system to gender-based violence, in accordance with the law; and (3) the 2016–2019 Action Plan “For a life free from gender-based violence, with a generational perspective” recognizes the strategic importance of including within the interinstitutional comprehensive response system, a faster and more effective occupational integration response for women who are suffering or who have suffered gender-based violence. The Committee notes this information. While noting that the Government acknowledges that there are challenges to the professional advancement of women, which prevents them from accessing high-level positions in enterprises and institutions, the Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures, in cooperation with workers’ and employers’ organizations, to continue its efforts to reduce the gender pay gap. The Committee reminds the Government of the possibility to avail itself of ILO technical assistance in this regard.

Articles 1 and 2. Equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. Definition of remuneration. Legislation. With regard to its request to consider giving full legislative effect to the principle of the Convention and including in the legislation a definition of the term “remuneration”, in accordance with Article 1(a) of the Convention, the Committee notes in the Government’s report that the country has still not established a regulation defining the term “remuneration” and work of equal value. The Committee asks the Government to take, without delay, appropriate measures to give full legislative effect to the principle of equal pay for men and women for work of equal value.

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