Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Chile (Ratification: 1971)

1. Article 2, paragraph 2(a), of the Convention. In its comments in 2003, the Committee invited the Government to consider including in its legislation the principle set out in the Convention. The Committee considered that section 2 of the Labour Code is related to the application of the principle of the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), but does not necessarily reflect the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. The Committee trusts that the Government will take the necessary measures to include the principle set out in the Convention in the national legislation.

2. Statistical information. From the information provided by the Government in its report on Convention No. 111, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that, based on an analysis of the data of the “Casen” Survey of 2003, it has been observed that wage discrimination against women has decreased in recent years and that it now lies slightly above 25 per cent. The Committee notes the 2004 Labour Survey, which shows that women are concentrated in the lowest remuneration categories in comparison with men, and that there are fewer women in the higher categories. The Committee notes that the National Women’s Department (SERNAM) has established, with the University of Chile, a national and regional system of information and monitoring for women in the Chilean labour market, which includes, in relation to remuneration, the type and degree of discrimination, the comparative distribution of remuneration between men and women and the quality index of women’s employment (INCEF), thereby providing systematic annual information and the monitoring of changes in the pattern of sex‑based remuneration. The Committee trusts that the Government will continue to provide up to date statistical information in future reports and asks it to supply information on the application in practice of the national and regional system referred to above and on any findings, as well as the data acquired from INCEF in relation to the principle set out in the Convention.

3. Article 2, paragraph 1. From the information provided in the report on Convention No. 111, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that a series of initiatives have been launched to raise awareness in public opinion concerning the importance of giving effect to the principle set out in the Convention. These include the incentive for private enterprises to apply objective remuneration policies and systems through the “Prize for good gender equity practices”. The Committee asks the Government to continue providing information on the measures adopted or envisaged to reduce the wage gap between men and women workers and on their impact in practice.

4. Article 2, paragraph 2(c). The Committee reiterates its 2003 request to the Government for information on the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure that collective agreements are in conformity with the national legislation and to apply the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value.

5. Article 4. The Committee also reiterates its 2003 request to the Government for information on cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations for the purpose of improving the application and raising awareness of the provisions of the Convention.