Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Indonesia (Ratification: 1958)

The Committee notes the Government's report and attached information, provided in response to the Committee's previous direct request.

1. The Committee notes the information concerning the activities of the labour inspection service to implement equal pay. It would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply such documentation in its future reports, including information on the outcome of any action taken to remedy infringements of the equal pay principle.

2. The Committee notes the indications provided on the means taken by the Government to inform and educate employers' and workers' organizations about equal remuneration. It hopes that these various initiatives will be continued and enhanced in the context of the measures being taken to strengthen tripartite collaboration to develop national policies and review legislation, as outlined in the Five-Year Workplan (1994-99) concluded in May 1994 between the Government and the ILO.

3. The Committee notes that, while a research project conducted by the Ministry of State for the Role of Women dealt with women's activities in general, there has not yet been a survey on women's wages. Noting, however, that a study on wage analysis was conducted by the Ministry of Manpower in collaboration with the Demographic Institute of the University of Indonesia, with a view to ensuring a more effective implementation of the Convention, the Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the findings of this study. Please also provide any information pertinent to the application of the Convention that might have been collected during the course of the project of the Ministry of State for the Role of Women or any other agency.

4. The Committee notes the provisions of the collective agreements furnished by the Government. It requests the Government to continue to provide such information in its future reports, together with an indication of the percentage of men and women employed in the various categories. The Committee notes that, although a copy of the salary scales applying in the public sector has been furnished by the Government, the report provides no indication as to the percentages of men and women employed at the different levels. It again requests the Government to provide this information, together with any available statistical data concerning the minimum or basic wage rates and the average actual earnings of men and women in the economy, broken down, where possible, by occupation or sector of employment, seniority or level of qualifications, as well as information on the corresponding percentage of women.

5. The Committee notes that the Final Report of an ILO/UNDP TSS1 Mission (1993), "A Comprehensive Women's Employment Strategy" - which is intended to serve as a contribution for the Five-Year Development Plan (called REPELITA V1) - states that the designation of a husband as head of household, as stipulated in the Marriage Act, can have negative implications for the receipt of employment-related benefits, such as allowances, housing, etc., by excluding women's entitlement (Part 6.1.4 paragraph 26). In this regard, the report cites a 1991 study carried out on the Life Strategy of Female Headed Households in five communities in five provinces in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, Jakarta, West Java and East Java, where it was found that, in practice, women may not receive family allowances or benefits. A number of provisions are mentioned in this respect, including Ministerial Decree No. 02/P/M/Mining/1971, Act No. 33 of 1947 on accidents, Government Decree No. 37 of 1967 on the wages system for employees in state companies and Decree of Minister of Agriculture No. 418/Kpts/Ekku/5/1981. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether action is being taken or contemplated to ensure that these and any other similar provisions are amended so as to ensure that women and their families are not discriminated against in respect of such employment-related benefits. In order to eliminate discriminatory practices of this type, the Committee also requests the Government to consider taking measures to foster a greater appreciation for the fact that women are often the primary or sole income-earners in a household, including amending the Marriage Act.