Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

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

Promotion of the principle of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government has once again provided no information regarding its previous comments on the need to undertake broad training and awareness-raising activities addressing specifically the issue of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value, and to ensure that such activities do not reinforce stereotyped views regarding women’s capabilities and social roles. In the light of the adoption on 18 September 2010 of Ministerial Order No. 2370/1, providing that “any discrimination in wages shall be prohibited between male and female workers for work of equal value”, the Committee 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 effective implementation of the Ministerial Order in practice.

Enforcement. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that annual training courses are organized to train inspectors before they are sworn in, and they are then provided with six months’ training in the field, and with annual courses in inspection with relevant bodies. The Government states generally that such courses focus on the issue of equal remuneration between all categories of workers, in accordance with relevant instructions and regulations. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the dispute resolution mechanisms available should a worker seek to bring a claim for a violation of Ministerial Order No. 2370/1. Noting the Government’s statement that there have been no violations of equal remuneration reported to or detected by the labour inspectorate, and the general information provided regarding the nature of the training, the Committee asks the Government to take proactive measures to improve the capacity of labour inspectors to detect and address unequal remuneration between men and women for work of equal value, and to ensure that workers are apprised of their rights pursuant to Ministerial Order No. 2370/1 and of the dispute resolution mechanisms available.

Statistics. The Committee notes that no statistics have been provided. The Committee asks the Government to provide statistics on wages, disaggregated by sex, in the various sectors and occupations, and at different levels of responsibility. Having noted from previous statistics that occupational gender segregation is a feature of the Saudi labour market, the Committee once again asks the Government to take measures to provide women with access to a wider range of jobs, including those traditionally reserved for men and, in particular, to gain access to higher paying jobs and positions. Please provide detailed information in this regard.