Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Tokelau

Article 2 of the Convention. Application of equal remuneration in the public service. The Committee notes that following the Tokelau Public Service Manual (section 3.1(a)), the salaries for the employees in the public service are derived from unified salary scales. The employer will decide the commencement salary of an individual employee from the approved salary range for the position. However, the Committee also notes that an employer may, in exceptional cases, place an employee on any salary step they deem fit, notwithstanding the normal salary range applying to the position in accordance with section 3.1(c) of the Manual. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on how it is ensured that employers do not discriminate between male and female employees when deciding on which salary step will apply. While noting the Government’s information on the functioning of the village employees committees, the Committee must reiterate its request to the Government to indicate the manner in which these committees are promoting in practice the application of the Convention.

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the distribution of men and women in the public service. It notes that out of the 45 national public servants, 19 are men and 26 are women. A total of 28 staff fall within the salary grading, with eight men and 20 women. The other 17 staff members are contract workers, 11 of whom are men and six of whom are women. The Committee would be grateful if the Government could provide an indication of the number of male and female public servants occupying the higher paid posts in the public service.

Application of the principle in the private sector. The Committee notes the Government’s reply that the private sector in Tokelau is very small and that both men and women have equal opportunities to sell their handicrafts. The Committee further notes from the Government’s report that a draft national policy for women and a national plan of action is being developed. The Committee would be grateful to receive a copy of the national policy and action plan on women, once they have been adopted, and it hopes that these will include activities to promote the application of the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value.