Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Germany (Ratification: 1956)

The Committee notes the Government's report and the documentation annexed thereto.

1. Further to its previous comments concerning wage groups for light work in collective agreements, the Committee notes the Eighth Report of the Federal Government to the Federal Diet concerning the application of the principle of equal remuneration under Article 119 of the EEC Treaty. It notes that from 1986 to 1988 there was no further reduction in the number of collective agreements containing wage groups for light work which remains at 21; the definition of the wage groups in these agreements has not been further clarified. The report concludes, however, that if wage agreements also take into account mental strain and stress, many female activities, specifically those that require little physical but much mental strain, need to be reclassified at higher wage levels. Referring to its observation on the application of the Convention, the Committee requests the Government to supply information on any action taken or contemplated to clarify the definition of the wage groups in these 21 agreements, particularly by reference to such criteria as mental strain and stress.

2. According to the above-mentioned Report, the results of the survey on wage agreements show that renewed efforts by the social partners will be essential in those sectors where wage agreements are based uniquely on physical demand and classified accordingly. With a view to assisting the social partners both to examine those wage agreements which still contain references to "light labour wage groups" and to calculate and compare the difficulty inherent in jobs undertaken by women and men, the Committee requests the Government to indicate whether measures have been or will be taken to ensure that workers' and employers' organisations are aware of the decisions of the Federal Labour Court referred to in the observation to provide information on the results of any action in this area.

3. The Committee notes the information supplied concerning the employment of men and women in industry (including structural and civil engineering) which indicates not only that women predominate in production groups for unskilled workers but that the average gross hourly earnings of women remain lower than those of men even when employed in the same production groups. The Committee observes that, in so far as these indications are attributable to the behavioural pattern of women in employment and their lower qualifications, the measures which are being taken to overcome traditional attitudes regarding jobs considered appropriate for men and women (which were noted by the Committee in its previous comments under Convention No. 111) would assist in reducing the wage differential. While recalling the explanations provided by the Government in its previous report concerning the way in which groups of economic activities are established for the purposes of analysis, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information concerning the hourly wage differential between women and men in industry, together with information on any other measures being taken to reduce that differential.