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

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Sao Tome and Principe (Ratification: 1982)

1. Legislation. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that a draft General Labour Act has been prepared and submitted to the National Assembly. However, due to a change of Government, it was unlikely that the legislation would be adopted very soon. The Committee recalls its previous comments in which it noted that the provisions of the Constitution do not fully reflect the Convention’s principle as they refer to equal wages for “equal work” rather than “work of equal value”. Hence, the need to take further legislative action to ensure full compliance with the Convention. The Committee recalls its 2006 general observation, stressing the importance of giving full legislative expression to the principle of the Convention, providing not only for equal remuneration for equal, the same or similar work, but also prohibiting pay discrimination that occurs in situations where men and women perform different work that is nevertheless of equal value (paragraph 6). The Committee, therefore, urges the Government to ensure that the future General Labour Act explicitly provides for the right of men and women to receive equal remuneration for work of equal value, in accordance with the Convention, and to indicate any progress made in this regard. The Committee also reminds the Government that ILO technical assistance is available and asks the Government to consider forwarding a copy of the draft legislation to the Office for its review.

2. Cooperation with workers’ and employers’ organizations. The Committee recalls the important role of workers’ and employers’ organizations with respect to giving effect to the provisions of the Convention. It, therefore, asks the Government to seek the cooperation of these organizations with regard to the establishment of an appropriate legislative framework to apply the Convention, as indicated above, as well as with regard to practical measures to ensure equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. Please keep the Committee informed of progress made in this regard.

3. Statistical information. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the National Institute of Statistics was currently carrying out a survey which also covered the issue of remuneration of men and women. The Committee asks the Government to communicate the results of the ongoing survey as soon as they become available.