Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Burkina Faso (Ratification: 1969)

1. Article 1 of the Convention. Legislative measures. The Committee notes the adoption of the new Labour Code (Act No. 33-2004/AN of 14 September 2004). It notes that the Code in section 175 continues to provide that "where there are equal working conditions, professional qualifications and output, the salary shall be equal for all workers no matter what their origin, sex, age or status". This, however, does not fully reflect the principle of the Convention. In this context, the Committee points out once again that the Convention sets out the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value and applies to  situations where men and women work under different working conditions or with different qualifications, but nevertheless perform jobs of equal value. The Committee hopes the Government will consider amending section 175 in order to bring it fully into line with the Convention. In the meantime, please provide information on how the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value is applied in practice.

2. Article 2. Promotion of the principle of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of a national policy for the promotion of women by Decree No. 2004-486/PRES/PM/MPF of 10 November 2004. The Government is asked to provide a copy of this policy as well as information on the measures taken under the policy to promote the principle of equal remuneration between men and women for work of equal value, and the results achieved.

3. The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read in relevant parts as follows:

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2. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the national job classification system that was envisaged has not yet been established. The Committee hopes that the Government will continue to provide information in this regard in its next report. Please also provide information on any other initiatives in the public service or at the sector or enterprise level to undertake objective evaluation of jobs for the purposes of wage fixing.

3. With regard to the collection of statistical information concerning the levels of remuneration of women and men, the Committee once again encourages the Government to make every effort to collect such data and to share it with the Committee. Such information is of crucial importance in order to be able to assess the extent, scope and nature of existing inequalities in remuneration as between men and women. Recalling that the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women underlined in its 1999 concluding observations the existence of labour market segregation with regard to levels of remuneration, the Committee urges the Government to take all possible action to improve the status of women in the labour market, increase education and skill levels of women and widen occupational choices for women, all of which should lead to an improved application of the Convention.

4. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to supply information on any activities of the social partners to promote the application of the Convention.