Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Belarus (Ratification: 1956)

1. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government in its report concerning the manner in which wage rates are fixed for the various sectors of employment. It notes, in particular, that under the Act relating to Enterprises in the Byelorussian SSR (which came into force on 1 January 1991) enterprises have the right to set their own wage rates, using the State wage rates and salary scales as guidelines in establishing wage differentials based on occupation, skill, complexity of task and working conditions. The Committee further notes that within the context of a comprehensive pay reform, enterprises and organisations will be entitled, where possible, to raise levels of wages and salaries above those set by the State's single rating schedule, which provides a scale of rates and remuneration for workers in all sectors of the economy. In the light of these reforms, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or contemplated to ensure that all the elements of remuneration stipulated in agreements concluded between the administrations of enterprises or organisations and trade unions comply with the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would furnish in its next report, examples of collective agreements fixing wage rates in a range of enterprises or organisations, together with an indication of the percentage of women covered by these agreements, and the percentage of men and women employed at different levels.

2. The Committee notes that for some years, the Government has not provided information sufficient to enable an appraisal of the extent to which the wage differential has been reduced through application of the principle of the Convention. Accordingly, the Committee requests the Government to provide, in its next report, full information concerning the implementation in practice of the Convention including: (i) the salary scales applying in the public sector, with an indication of the percentage of men and women employed at different levels; (ii) statistical data concerning the minimum or basic wage rates and the average actual earnings of men and women in the economy, broken down, where possible, by occupation or sector of employment, seniority or skill level as well as information on the percentage of women employed in different occupations or sectors; and (iii) information regarding any surveys or studies undertaken or envisaged with a view to determining the reasons for wage disparities and details on any measures to remove the barriers to the full implementation of the Convention.