Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Cameroon (Ratification: 1970)

1. Article 2 of the Convention. Work of equal value. Laws and regulations. The Committee notes that section 61(2), of the Labour Code stipulates that “in equal conditions of work and professional ability, wages are equal for all workers, regardless of their origin, gender, age, status and religious beliefs”. The Committee notes that this section does not fully reflect the principle of equal remuneration for men and women as set forth in the Convention, since this principle encompasses not only work in equal conditions or similar types of work, but also types of work which, while different, are of equal value. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to its 2006 general observation, in particular to paragraph 6 thereof, which states that legal provisions that are narrower than the principle as laid down in the Convention, as they do not give expression to the concept of “work of equal value”, hinder progress in eradicating gender-based pay discrimination against women at work. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the manner in which the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value is applied in practice. The Committee asks the Government to take all the necessary steps to give full legislative expression to the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value and to provide information on any progress made in this regard.

2. Differences in remuneration. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the points raised by the Union of Free Trade Unions of Cameroon (USLC) concerning the application by certain employers, especially in remote areas, of different wage rates for men and women. The Government states that in order to remedy this situation, it is the responsibility of the workers affected and the trade unionists to denounce such employers. The Government also states that labour inspections are carried out to monitor the application of the Convention in respect of equal remuneration. In this regard, the Committee notes from the PAMODEC study that the provisions in force relating to proof of discrimination make it very difficult for workers to prove that they are victims of wage discrimination. The above document adds that this is one of the reasons why, despite the widespread awareness of recurrent discriminatory practices, not many discrimination-related disputes have been noted. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the steps taken to help workers demonstrate wage discrimination. The Committee also asks the Government to provide information on the manner in which labour inspections ensure the effective application of the Convention and particularly on the number of labour inspections carried out in remote areas and the nature of the reported violations of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value.

3. Article 3. Objective appraisal of jobs. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the State sets the minimum guaranteed interoccupational wage (SMIG). It also notes the existence of a standard national job classification system and the professional job classification system in the sectors where agreements are negotiated. The Committee asks the Government to send information on the methods used to establish the abovementioned job classification systems and on the manner in which these systems apply the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value for the setting of the SMIG and the wages fixed through collective bargaining.

4. Part V of the report form. Statistics. The Committee notes that the Government is still not able to provide statistical information on the application of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government once again requests the technical assistance of the Office to compile all the requested data. The Committee hopes that the Office will very soon be in a position to provide such assistance. In the meantime, it nevertheless encourages the Government, once again, to make every effort to collect and provide any information on the practical application of the Convention, including through collective agreements, that would permit the Committee to assess the nature and extent of any existing wage inequalities between men and women.