Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Saudi Arabia (Ratification: 1978)

Promotion of the principle of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government has not replied to its previous comments on the need to undertake training and awareness-raising activities addressing specifically the issue of equal remuneration for work of equal value, and to ensure that such activities do not reinforce stereotyped views regarding women’s capabilities and social roles. The Committee, therefore, once again urges the Government to undertake awareness raising and training, in cooperation with workers’ and employers’ organizations, specifically addressing the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value, in order to ensure a better understanding of the issues involved, and promote acceptance and implementation of the principle.

Enforcement. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that a number of measures have been taken to improve the ability of labour inspectors to detect and resolve inequality in wages for work of equal value. The Committee asks the Government to provide specific information on the training provided to labour inspectors, stating in particular how the issue of equal remuneration is addressed. Please also provide information on the number and nature of equal pay violations identified by the labour inspectors, or complaints received, and how they have been addressed, including any sanctions imposed.

Statistics. The Committee thanks the Government for providing statistics of average wages, disaggregated by sex, main occupation, and economic activity for 2007. The Committee notes that the statistics indicate that women generally remain concentrated in the lowest wage bands. The Committee also notes the information provided by the Government on the measures taken to provide more employment opportunities for women. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing such statistics, and to take measures to provide women with opportunities to access a wider range of jobs, including those traditionally reserved for men, and in particular, to gain access to higher paying jobs and positions, and to provide information in this regard.