Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Philippines (Ratification: 1953)

Promotion of the principle of the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the employment rate of men who have graduated from the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes is higher than that of women (49.5 per cent for men and 39.6 per cent for women). The Committee also notes that the following initiatives have been undertaken by the Women’s Centre of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA): (i) a 2006 Tracer Study showing that 59 per cent of trainees were mostly employed in sectors such as human resource management, jewellery and welding; (ii) a Graduate Tracking System (telephone survey) revealing that, in 2008, the average employment rate of trainees was about 64 per cent, and that 41.4 per cent of women certified in “household service” have been employed overseas with a salary of US$400–500 per month; and (iii) an International Training Program implemented from 1999 to 2005. In this connection, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that an evaluation study was undertaken between 2002 and 2005 showing some positive outcomes, in particular in addressing gender issues and promoting gender equality. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the impact of vocational training and educational programmes on the promotion of women into higher paying jobs. The Committee asks the Government to provide in particular the following information:

(i)    detailed and updated information on the number of women and men graduates respectively that were subsequently employed in higher paying jobs;

(ii)   the impact of the International Training Program, related to the application of the principle of the Convention;

(iii)  the specific impact of the International Training Program and third country training programmes for 2002–05 on addressing equal pay issues in private enterprises, as requested in the previous comments; and

(iv)  copies of the studies and surveys mentioned in the Government’s report, as well as any other assessment of the impact of the vocational training and education programmes on women’s access to higher paying jobs.

Wage determination. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, pursuant to The Republic Act (RA) No. 6727 of 9 June 1989 (Wage Rationalization Act), the primary purpose of the minimum wage fixing is to provide protection to the most vulnerable workers, in particular unskilled and lowest paid workers. In this regard, the Committee refers to the statistical information of the National Statistics Office indicating that the percentage of women working as labourers and unskilled workers is higher than the percentage of men (36.6 per cent of woman and 30 per cent of men), and is particularly significant in some regions. The Committee also notes from the statistical data given in the Government’s report that women working in private households constitute the lowest paid group of workers, with a daily basic pay of 114.50 pesos (PHP). In addition, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards (RTWPBs) are the bodies fixing the minimum wage rates applicable in their regions, provinces or industries, and that minimum wage adjustments by these boards do not necessarily consider remuneration according to gender or occupation. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the need to ensure that rates of remuneration in occupations predominantly employing women are not set below the level of the rates applied to occupations predominantly employing men carrying out work of equal value. The Committee asks the Government to provide specific information on the following:

(i)    how it is ensured that the minimum wage fixing machinery protects vulnerable workers, specifically women working as labourers, unskilled workers and in private households; and

(ii)   what measures have been taken or envisaged to ensure that the method and criteria used by the RTWPBs to determine and adjust the minimum wage rates are free from gender bias, and that rates fixed for female-dominated occupations are not set below the levels of rates applying to male-dominated occupations for work of equal value.

Collective agreements. With regard to the determination of wages above the minimum wage through collective agreements, the Committee notes that the Government has supplied no information in this respect. The Committee, therefore, asks the Government to indicate how collective agreements contribute to setting wages above the minimum wage rates. The Committee also reiterates its previous request to the Government to provide copies of relevant collective agreements setting wages above the minimum wage, as well as information on the number of men and women covered by these agreements and their distribution in the different wage levels.

Statistics. Please provide statistics on the distribution of women and men in the different sectors, occupations and positions, and their respective levels of remuneration.