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

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

1.  The Committee notes the Government’s report, its annexes and the statistical information provided on income levels disaggregated by sex and on differences in income between men and women. The Committee notes that, according to the statistics provided by the Government in its report, men earn 31 per cent more than women for each hour worked. Men who have completed primary and secondary education earn 50 per cent more for each hour worked than women at the same educational level. With regard to manual workers in the public sector, men earn 30 per cent more than women; male manual workers in the private sector earn 12.6 per cent more than women. Taking this information into account, the Committee notes that problems exist in practice in the application of the principle contained in the Convention. It asks the Government to provide information on the possible causes of the wage gap between men and women and on the measures taken or envisaged to reduce the wage gap.

2.  As concerns the methodology used in practice for the determination of wages, the Committee has already pointed out that gender bias and stereotyping can easily enter the process for wage determination, resulting in an under-evaluation of those jobs held mainly by women. It therefore requests information on the efforts made to reduce gender bias in the process for determining wages. These efforts may consist, for example, of the use of methods designed for the objective evaluation of jobs. Please also indicate the methods for cooperation with the employers’ and workers’ organizations concerned for the purpose of giving effect in practice to the provisions of the Convention.

3.  The Committee notes with interest that, under the terms of Decree No. 21403 of 11 February 1998, a permanent National Tripartite Commission has been established to examine and promote women’s participation in the labour market in a context of equity and equality with men. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide detailed information on the activities of this Commission and the action which has been taken or is envisaged for the achievement of its objectives. Please indicate, for example, the measures which the National Tripartite Commission anticipates taking with a view to reducing existing wage differentials and to increasing the low percentage of women in managerial positions.

4.  With regard to its previous comments concerning measures taken to implement the provisions governing equal pay, the Committee notes that the Government has not provided the information requested on the activities of the Labour Inspectorate (violations reported, penalties imposed) and on relevant rulings by the labour courts. It notes the Government’s statement that it is concentrating its efforts on improving its data collection system through technical assistance and the Committee hopes that the Government will be in a position to provide the information requested in its next report so that it can assess the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice.