Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Norway (Ratification: 1959)

1.  In respect of its previous request for information concerning trials involving job evaluation in the municipal sector, the Committee notes the report "Job Evaluation System for Local Authorities", supplied by the Government. According to the report, six local authorities participated in the development of the job evaluation system, which involved the assessment of a mix of typical female- and male-dominated jobs (187 jobs in 51 categories). The system developed five key job requirements (expertise, skills, responsibility, complexity and physical and psychological stress) and 12 factors (encompassing seven different levels for each factor, weights for each factor and complete job descriptions) to be used in evaluating those requirements. According to the report, the job comparison was limited to jobs within the same profession or those which share many features. Noting the Government’s statements that, despite requests made at the pay settlement in 2000 for the system to be put into use, negotiations on this matter had not yet been completed as of the date of the Government’s report, the Committee asks the Government to supply concrete examples of the implementation of the job evaluation system in future reports.

2.  The Committee notes with interest that the pay settlements between LO and NHO during the reporting period have included the issue of equal pay. It further notes that centralized low pay increases have been awarded, along with increases for inconvenient working hours and higher minimum pay rates, which have produced greater wage parity between men and women, given the high proportion of women in low pay trades. The report reflects that a survey conducted by a composite committee showed that, while the effect of the centralized increases was upheld in local pay negotiations, the pay gap between men and women actually widened in local settlements. The Government indicates that this circumstance will be addressed by the parties to the centralized negotiations. The Committee would be grateful if the Government could provide information on the issue in its next report, explaining the reasons for the widening of the pay gap in local settlements and indicating the manner in which the situation will be resolved. Noting from the report that a number of pay settlements for the public and private sectors had positive equal pay effects during the reporting period, particularly in certain female-dominated occupational groups, the Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on pay settlements in future reports.

3.  The Committee welcomes the information supplied by the Government concerning the activities of the Centre for Gender Equality. It notes that the Centre’s mandate includes identifying those conditions in society that impede the effective achievement of gender equality, acting as a focal point for cooperation between organizations and services promoting gender equality, and carrying out development work and producing reports in the area of gender equality. The Committee would appreciate receiving information on the Centre’s activities and copies of relevant reports in future reports on the application of Convention No. 111.