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

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Zambia (Ratification: 1972)

Article 1 of the Convention. Legislation. The Committee notes that the draft Employment Act (Amendment Bill) defines equal pay for work of equal value as meaning that “an expatriate or Zambian professional with matching qualifications holding similar roles be remunerated equitably”, which is narrower than the concept of “equal remuneration for work of equal value” set out in Article 1(b) of the Convention. Moreover, the definition does not address equal remuneration between men and women, which is often where disparity or inequality in wages can be found. The Committee further notes the Government’s statement that the review of the Employment Act, Cap 268, will incorporate the principle of equal remuneration. The Committee refers to its 2006 general observation, and it hopes that the new provisions of the Employment Act, Cap 268, will specifically guarantee equal remuneration between men and women for work of equal value. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the progress made in reviewing the Employment Act in this respect.

Analysing the gender wage gap. The Committee notes with interest that, in 2007, the Labour Statistical Office published its first Labour Force Survey Report (LFS–2005) in almost 20 years. The Committee notes that the survey contains detailed sex-disaggregated data on employment, unemployment, underemployment and levels of income and earnings. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that it has planned to undertake a comprehensive wages survey as a way of strengthening the Labour Market Information System. The Committee encourages the Government to continue its efforts in collecting data on employment and earnings that are disaggregated by sex. It trusts that the forthcoming wages survey will allow for an assessment of the gender wage gap in the various industries, sectors and occupations. Please provide a copy of the survey when finalized.

Earnings differentials between men and women. The Committee notes from the Labour Force Survey that significant differences in earnings exist between men and women with, in 2005, men earning almost twice as much as women. The results show that the agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries, which is the only sector where women predominate (52.3 per cent), has the lowest-paid occupations and the highest proportion of workers in the lowest earnings group. One-fifth is reported to have no income at all. The results also indicate large differences in earnings between men and women within the energy industry and in managerial occupations. For example, in rural areas, male managers and administrators earned three times more than their female counterparts. Furthermore, average earnings of men were two times higher than those of women among those who worked an average of 40–49 hours per week; this group is also the highest earnings group in terms of hours of work. The Committee further notes from the Government’s report that the National Gender Policy envisages measures aimed at: (a) removing barriers that prevent women’s effective participation in formal and informal employment; (b) ensuring equal employment opportunities in all sectors of the economy; and (c) devising mechanisms to ensure equal access of women to effective skills training, retraining and counselling and placement services that are inclined to stereotyped employment perceived to be only suitable to women. The Committee asks the Government as follows: (i) to determine the reasons for the differences in earnings between men and women and to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to address any of the causes identified; and (ii) to indicate how any of the measures taken or envisaged under the National Gender Policy are helping, or have helped, to reduce differences in remuneration between men and women.

The Committee notes the adoption of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Act, No. 9 of 2006, which establishes the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission and which includes the promotion of gender equality among its main objectives. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on any measures taken by the Citizens Economic Empowerment Committee to promote the provisions of the Convention. For a detailed examination of the Act, the Committee refers to its comments on the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111).

Collective agreements. The Committee notes the collective agreements, including the wage scales, attached to the Government’s report, which have been concluded for the public health sector, the building and engineering sector, the security services sector, the financial institutions and the mining sector. The Committee asks the Government to provide information, where available, on the distribution of men and women in the different grades and wages scales covered by these agreements.