Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Guyana (Ratification: 1975)

The Committee notes the information and documents supplied by the Government in response to its previous direct requests.

1. With regard to the practical application of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value, the Committee notes that, according to the Government, minimum wages are set by the Government for workers who are not unionized, without any distinction between male and female workers. The Committee requests the Government to indicate how the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value is applied in respect of wages which are higher than the legal minimum.

2. The Committee notes that the labour inspection services ensure that employers comply with the wages prescribed. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide statistical information in its next report to enable it to ascertain how the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value (and not only for equal work, as laid down in article 22 of the Constitution) is applied in practice, and particularly statistical data concerning minimum wage rates and the average actual earnings of men and of women, broken down, if possible, by occupation, branch of activity, seniority and level of qualifications, as well as information on the percentage of women in the different occupations or sectors, and on the activities of the labour inspectorate relating to supervision of the application of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value.

3. The Committee notes that the Government is presently conducting a job evaluation exercise in the public service. It would be grateful if the Government would provide information on progress made in this area and on the impact of this evaluation on the implementation of the Convention.

4. The Committee notes the indication that the amendment of section 24(2)(f) of the Factories Act (which empowers the Minister to issue regulations establishing different rates of remuneration for men and women for overtime) is still under consideration. The Committee notes that the Government has been referring to the examination of this amendment since 1989 and trusts that it will be in a position to provide a copy of the amended text with its next report.