Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Cameroon (Ratification: 1970)

The Committee notes the communication from the Confederation of United Workers of Cameroon (CTUC), dated 20 October 2011. The Committee asks the Government to communicate its comments in this response.

Article 2(2)(a) of the Convention. Work of equal value. Legislation. For several years the Committee has been drawing the Government’s attention to the fact that section 61(2) of the Labour Code makes payment of an equal wage to all workers, regardless of their origin, sex, age, status and religious belief, contingent on “equal conditions of work and skill” and that it therefore does not give full effect to the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value. The Committee notes the Government’s commitment to amending section 61(2) of the Labour Code when the Code is revised. It notes, however, that the report contains no information as to when the reform of the labour legislation is to be conducted. The Committee trusts that the Government will take the necessary steps in the near future to amend section 61(2) of the Labour Code so that it reflects the principle laid down in the Convention, and asks the Government to provide specific information on the measures taken to this end and on progress made in the Labour Code revision process.

Article 2(2)(c). Collective agreements. In its previous comments the Committee pointed out that section 70 of the CAMRAIL collective agreement is discriminatory in that it provides for the grant of travel allowances only to the wife and children of a worker and not to the husband of a CAMRAIL female worker. The Committee asked the Government to take the necessary steps to ensure that the provisions of the CAMRAIL collective agreement observe the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it is in the process of taking the necessary measures to ensure that the clauses of the CAMRAIL collective agreement observe the principle laid down in the Convention. Pointing out once again that the principle of equal remuneration for men and women laid down in the Convention applies not only to wages but also to all related benefits, the Committee asks the Government to specify the measures taken, in cooperation with the social partners, to ensure that the discriminatory clauses of the CAMRAIL collective agreement are revised, and to indicate, more generally, the action taken to encourage the social partners to examine collective agreements in the light of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. Please also provide copies of relevant extracts of collective agreements.

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