Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Serbia (Ratification: 2000)

Assessment of the gender remuneration gap. The Committee notes from the publication Women and Men in Serbia issued by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia in 2008 that in four sectors of economic activity women earned on average slightly more than men, while in the remaining 11 sectors women earned between 7–27 per cent less than men. The gender remuneration gap was smallest in public administration and social insurance and widest in fishing. Analysing the gender remuneration gap by occupation, the study entitled “The position of women and men on the labour market in Serbia” issued jointly by the Government’s Gender Equality Council and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2008, found that the smallest gap was observed in clerical occupations and the greatest among skilled agricultural workers. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide statistical information on the earnings of men and women according to sectors of economic activity and occupation. It also asks the Government to provide information on any studies carried out or envisaged to examine the causes of the existing gender remuneration gap.

Article 2 of the Convention. Application of the Convention through legislation. The Committee recalls that the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value is set out in section 104 of the Labour Code. It notes that the Recommendations issued in conjunction with the abovementioned study suggest that the Labour Code should be amended so that violations of the principle of equal remuneration are clearly defined as gender-based discrimination. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the measures taken to implement this recommendation.

In its report, the Government clarifies that monitoring compliance with section 104 of the Labour Code falls within the mandate of the labour inspectorate. However, the Committee notes from the abovementioned study that the labour inspectorate does not hold systematic and accurate data on violations of the equal pay principle. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the manner in which the labour inspectorate monitors compliance with section 104 of the Labour Code, as well as information on any steps taken to compile and analyse data regarding violations of these provisions. Please also indicate whether any cases concerning violations of the Convention’s principle have been decided by the courts.

Collective bargaining. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on how the principle of the Convention has been included in collective agreements.

Training and awareness raising. The Committee stresses the importance of awareness raising and training on the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value among workers’ and employers’ and their organizations, labour inspectors, judges and other relevant target groups. The Committee asks the Government for information on any steps taken to provide such training.