Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - France (Ratification: 1953)

1. The Committee notes the Government’s report and the attached documentation. It notes that the Government’s report is confined to information on the measures taken or envisaged to improve equality between men and women workers in employment and occupation, which the Committee is examining under Convention No. 111. The Committee also notes the statement that the Women’s Rights and Equality Service (Service du droit des femmes et de l’égalité) has provided a report in response to its previous comments on the application of Convention No. 100. However, the Committee notes that this report has not been received by the Office and it hopes that the report will be provided in the near future.

2. The wage gap. The Committee notes from the information in the Government’s report that the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value is still not fully applied and that the wage gap still persists between men and women. It notes the numerous initiatives undertaken to address the issue of unequal pay, particularly the statement that employers will be encouraged to examine and better understand the reasons for the persistent wage gap. It notes the Government’s statement that one major reason for unequal remuneration between men and women is the fact that women workers do not pursue a career in the same manner as men for a variety of reasons, including maternity, the unwillingness of women to be flexible in terms of mobility or to make themselves available to work overtime hours and the tendency of women to opt for part-time work and the stereotype female professions. It notes the Government’s statement that these issues should be taken into account when addressing the problem of unequal remuneration. The Committee also notes the Government’s statement that it is proposing to develop indicators to measure wage inequalities, as well as inequalities in men and women’s access to training and promotion. The Committee asks the Government to provide information with its next report on the manner in which the different approach of women to their careers does not result in an undervaluing of their work in comparison to the work of men. The Committee also asks the Government to continue providing information on the progress made in developing an indicator to measure wage inequalities and on the promotional measures adopted or envisaged to promote women’s access to training and promotion.

3. Article 2 of the Convention. Collective agreements. The Committee notes from the information in the Government’s report that several collective agreements now contain a definition of equal remuneration for work of equal value, but that this trend needs to be further developed at the branch level in order to implement fully the principle of the Convention. It welcomes these inclusions in the agreements and asks the Government to provide information with its next report on the manner in which the social partners address the issue of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value, particularly in negotiations at the branch level and the methodology that they apply to establish "work of equal value".

4. Public sector. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the principle of non-discrimination applicable to workers in the public sector. It asks the Government to provide information with its next report on any measures taken or envisaged to undertake objective job appraisals with a view to ascertaining whether the work carried out by men and women workers in different jobs is in effect of equal value, as well as information on the measures taken or envisaged to take into account the differences between men’s and women’s career structures.

5. Statistical information. The Committee asks the Government to provide with its next report statistical information, disaggregated by sex and by job categories, for both the public and private sectors, in order to enable the Committee to assess in full the application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value.