Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Paraguay (Ratification: 1964)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Occupational segregation and the gender wage gap. The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that although the legislation does provide for equal remuneration for men and women, in practice there is a clear difference between the incomes of men and women, in favour of men. The Government refers to the adoption and implementation of various policies and strategies with a view to reducing the wage gap, including: (1) the Equal Employment Strategy, the main themes of which address women’s access to productivity courses and non-traditional occupations, as well as the development of entrepreneurial skills; (2) the Fourth National Equality Plan (2018–2024), the overarching objective of which is to progress towards real, effective equality, including through the promotion of women’s entrepreneurship; (3) the Second Plan for Equality, Inclusion and Non-Discrimination in the Public Service 2020–2024, objective 2.3 of which specifically aims at the adoption of an equitable wage policy in the public service; and (4) the Paraguay National Development Plan 2030 (PND), which recognizes the sexual division of labour and sets out, in its strategy 1.1, measures for equitable social development with a gender perspective (1.1.3). The Committee also notes the statistical information provided by the Government, which shows the average incomes of men and women workers in various occupational categories and branches of economic activity and highlights wage inequalities between men and women in the different sectors. While it welcomes these initiatives, the Committee requests the Government to:

• (i)report on the impact of the measures taken to reduce educational and occupational segregation between men and women; and
• (ii)provide statistical information in this regard.

Article 3. Objective evaluation of jobs. The Committee observes that the Ministry for Women (MINMujer) indicates that the absence of a specific regulation on wage equality makes it difficult to carry out an objective evaluation of wage equality in the sectors and notes, in its turn, that the Equal Pay for Men and Women in the Public and Private Sector Bill was introduced in November 2019 and subject to a virtual public reading in September 2020. The Committee also notes the promulgation of Act No. 6338/19, pursuant to which men and women domestic workers benefit from the statutory minimum wage regime. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the manner in which it is intended to proceed with the objective evaluation of jobs with a view to giving full effect to the principle of the Convention.