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

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Lesotho (Ratification: 1998)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that no measures have been taken as of yet to raise awareness of the principle of the Convention due to limited capacity within the Ministry of Labour. The Government states that it will seek ILO technical assistance in this regard. The Government also indicates that there have been no court cases regarding the application of section 5(2) of the Labour Code or section 33(a)(i) of the Constitution. Recalling that the absence of complaints relating to the principle of the Convention may result from the lack of knowledge of the rights derived from the Convention among workers and law enforcers, the Committee once again requests the Government to take measures to raise awareness of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value, and encourages the Government to take steps to secure ILO technical assistance in this regard.

Article 3. Public service. With regard to the job evaluation report for the public service, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that it is unable to provide a copy of the report due to the report’s confidentiality. The Government asks that the Committee indicate the specific information which it wishes to receive from the report in order for the Government to consider the request. The Committee asks the Government to provide specific information on any recommendations made in the context of the job evaluation report, and any follow-up thereto. Please also provide information on the methodology used in the job evaluation process.

Articles 3 and 4. Cooperation with the social partners. The Committee recalls that the National Advisory Committee on Labour has not yet addressed the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value or the need to promote the use of objective job evaluation methods. In this regard, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that the National Advisory Committee on Labour will be included in the training to be requested from the ILO. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on progress made, in cooperation with the social partners, with regard to the promotion of the principle of the Convention, including measures taken to promote the use of objective job evaluation methods and to promote the inclusion of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value in the context of collective bargaining.

Part V of the report form. Statistical information. The Committee notes the results of the Ministry of Labour and Employment 2008 survey included in the Government’s report. According to the statistics provided, there were 1,461,763 persons in the overall labour force aged 10 and above, of which 694,421 were men and 767,342 were women. The Government indicates that the overall unemployment rate at the time of the study was 25.3 per cent, while the male unemployment rate was 12.4 per cent and the female unemployment rate was 12.9 per cent. The Government also includes information on the unemployed population of those between the ages of 15 and 64 years, which was comprised of 94,322 men and 97,797 women. The Committee notes the information provided on the number of men and women employed at different grades in the public service. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the number of men and women employed in the different grades of the public service, including information on the level of remuneration received at each grade. Please also provide information on remuneration levels for men and women in the private sector by occupational group and grade.