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

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Jordan (Ratification: 1966)

Gender pay gap. The Committee notes the statistics provided by the Government which confirm the continuing gender pay gap at all skills levels, as previously noted, especially in the private sector, which was as high as 44 per cent compared to 24 per cent in the public sector in 2009. The Committee notes that in the private sector, female professionals in high administrative posts earned 39 per cent less than male professionals, female handicrafts workers earned 44 per cent less than male workers and in primary occupations, they earned 20 per cent less than male professionals. The Committee previously noted that in 2009, female professionals in the education sector earned one third less than male professionals; in the health/social work sector they earned 38 per cent less than male professionals, while in manufacturing, female professionals earned 24 per cent less than male professionals. The Committee asks the Government to provide detailed information on measures taken with a view to reducing the gender pay gap in the private and public sectors, including by the National Steering Committee for Pay Equity. Please also provide up-to-date statistical data on the distribution of men and women in the various industries and occupations in the private and public sectors, with their corresponding wage levels.

Scope of application. The Committee recalls that section 3(b) of the Labour Code, amended by Act No. 48/2008 provides that agricultural workers, domestic workers, gardeners and cooks will be governed by specific regulations. With respect to agricultural workers, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that a draft regulation is being discussed with all the stakeholders. The Committee notes that the Government refers to section 4 of Regulation No. 90/2009 on domestic workers, cooks, gardeners and similar workers, providing for decent work including the right to proper accommodation, though no information on the application in practice of Regulation No. 90/2009 is provided. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on any development regarding the adoption of the draft regulation on agricultural workers. The Committee also asks the Government to provide information on the application in practice of Regulation No. 90/2009, including section 4, with respect to wages, benefits and allowances, and to indicate whether domestic workers have filed any complaints in this regard, and the outcome thereof.

Article 2 of the Convention. Application of the principle in the public service. The Committee recalls its previous comments noting that despite an increase in the total number of women recruited, occupational segregation of women into lower paying occupations in the public service remains an issue. The Committee notes from the statistics provided by the Government that women continue to be under-represented in the civil service, especially at higher levels, such as in leading posts where they account for only 10.1 per cent of workers at this level, and in supervisory posts, where they represent 37.9 per cent. The Committee also notes that the majority of female workers in supervisory posts (60.45 per cent) are concentrated in the education sector. With respect to promotions, the Committee notes that in 2010, 219 female workers benefited from discretionary promotions, compared to 259 male workers, and 331 female workers benefited from mandatory promotion, as opposed to 292 male workers. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that section 4 of the Civil Service Regulations provides for the adoption of practical measures aimed at promoting equality of opportunity between all civil servants and that the Civil Service Office (Diwan) issued instructions on the selection of civil servants. The Committee asks the Government to indicate the specific measures taken or envisaged, including by the Civil Service Office (Diwan), to improve the proportion of women in higher level jobs in the public service, and to promote equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. Please provide a copy of the instructions issued on the selection of civil servants. The Committee also asks the Government to continue providing up-to-date statistical data on the distribution of men and women in various grades and to indicate their corresponding salary levels in the public service.

Minimum wage. The Committee previously noted the decision of the Government to exclude domestic workers and garment workers in the Qualifying Industrial Zone (QIZ) from the minimum wage which had increased in 2009 from 110 Jordanian dinars (JOD) to JOD150 per month. With respect to female domestic workers, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that they are covered by Order No. 4761 relating to the minimum wage, and that pursuant to section 2 of Order No. 110, they enjoy a minimum wage of JOD200. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Tripartite Committee for Labour Affairs and Workers sets minimum wages by region and occupation, based on indicators such as the cost of living, socio-economic and political developments in the region. The Government further indicates that the Tripartite Committee has examined minimum wages and conditions for workers in the education sector, a majority of whom are women. The Committee recalls that minimum wages are an important means of promoting the application of the principle of the Convention, and that special attention is needed in setting sectoral minimum wages to ensure that the rates fixed are free from gender bias and in particular that certain skills considered to be “female” are not undervalued. The Committee again asks the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value applies to all categories of workers, and more particularly with regard to QIZ workers. The Committee also asks the Government to indicate how in practice it is ensured that the rates fixed for sectoral minimum wages are free from gender bias, including with respect to the education sector. The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on the activities organized by the Tripartite Committee for Labour Affairs and Regions, and to indicate how the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value is applied in minimum wage setting mechanisms. Please also provide up-to-date information on the various minimum wage levels, and provide a copy of Order No. 110 and Order No. 4761.

Part V of the report form. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that a study was undertaken on wage disparities by the national Tripartite Committee. The Committee asks the Government to provide a summary of the findings, and any conclusions or recommendations of the study on wage disparities undertaken by the national Tripartite Committee and to provide information on any follow-up thereto.