Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Grenada (Ratification: 1994)

Article 2 of the Convention. Minimum wages. The Committee previously noted the adoption of the Minimum Wage Order SRO 30 (2011), which establishes a uniform minimum wage for 13 categories of workers, including agricultural workers. It asked the Government to indicate the methods and criteria used to determine the minimum wage rates for the different occupations and industries so as to ensure that sectors with a high proportion of women are not undervalued compared to sectors in which men are predominantly employed. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Wages Advisory Committee fixes minimum wage rates based on results gathered from surveys, interviews with workers, as well as in light of national socio-economic conditions and concerns raised by both workers and employers. Data from the National Insurance Scheme was also used to obtain information about domestic workers in particular. The Committee also notes that in its concluding observations of 21 February 2012, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), expressed concerns regarding the persistence of the gender pay gap, the horizontal and vertical gender segregation in the labour market and the concentration of women in low-skilled jobs with low pay (CEDAW/C/GRD/CO/1-5, 21 February 2012, paragraph 31). The Committee asks the Government to provide specific information on whether and to what extent the principle of the Convention has been taken into account in establishing the minimum wage rates. The Committee also asks the Government to provide information on the measures taken to promote the access of women to a wider range of jobs at all levels, including in sectors in which they are currently under-represented.

Articles 2 and 4. Collective agreements and cooperation with the social partners. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government regarding the job evaluation exercise carried out in the context of a collective agreement signed by the Grenada Electricity Services (GRENLEC) and the Grenada Technical and Allied Workers Union (GTAWU). It notes, in particular, that the collective agreement was amended as a result of the job evaluation exercise, awarding progressive wage increases. Noting that the collective agreement resulted in wage adjustments, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the adjustments on the remuneration of men and women respectively, and to provide information on any other collective agreements addressing the principle of the Convention. The Committee also asks the Government to provide any information on the steps taken to give effect to the principle of the Convention through cooperation with workers’ and employers’ organizations, including through training or awareness raising on the principle.

Article 3. Objective job evaluation. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the wage and grade scales currently in effect in the public sector were established as a result of a job evaluation exercise conducted in 1995. The Government also indicates that, although a subsequent evaluation was carried out in 2010, its results were not implemented due to concerns raised by workers’ organizations with regard to downgrading of wage scales, extension of pay bands and reduction of incremental steps. Further, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that a subcommittee was created to look into these issues and that the Department of Public Administration is looking into employing experts to conduct another job evaluation. The Committee recalls in this connection that, whatever methods are used for the objective evaluation of jobs, particular care must be taken to ensure that they are free from gender bias: it is important to ensure that the selection of factors for comparison, the weighting of such factors and the actual comparison carried out are not discriminatory, either directly or indirectly (see General Survey on fundamental Conventions, 2012, paragraph 701). In the context of the foreseen review of the public sector job evaluation process, the Committee asks the Government to develop and implement objective methods and criteria that are free from gender bias, in order to ensure that the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value is effectively applied, and to provide information in this regard. The Committee also reiterates its request for information on the specific measures taken or envisaged to promote objective job evaluation in the private sector.

Parts III to V of the report form. Monitoring and enforcement. The Committee notes the Government’s reference to a job evaluation exercise mandated by the arbitration tribunal, which resulted in the principle of equal pay for work of equal value being applied to workers in different bargaining units, as well as in compensation for differentials in pay. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the impact of the arbitrated wage adjustments on the remuneration of women and men respectively working for the Grenada Ports Authority, and on any other decisions of the courts or arbitration tribunal addressing equal pay for work of equal value, and the results thereof. Noting the Government’s indication that it will provide statistics with its next report, the Committee looks forward to receiving information regarding the participation and remuneration of men and women by industry, occupation and position, both in the public and private sectors, as soon as such data becomes available.