Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (Ratification: 1982)

Follow-up of the recommendations of the tripartite committee (representation made under article 24 of the ILO Constitution by the International Organisation of Employers (IOE) and the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers and Associations of Commerce and Production (FEDECAMARAS)). The Committee recalls that in its previous request it asked the Government to provide information on the provisions in force which establish differences in benefits for men and women workers who adopt children. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that there are currently no differences in social benefits or the socio-economic allowances received by men and women workers who adopt a child.

Wage gap and statistical data. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the employment rate for women is 92 per cent, while that of men is 92.6 per cent. The Committee also notes the statistical information provided by the Government on the global indicators of the labour force in both the formal and informal economies, disaggregated by sex for the period September 2009–September 2010, as well as indicators of the economically active population by branch of economic activity and employment status for the period 2004–10. This information is the outcome of the household sample survey undertaken in the context of the evaluation of the Equality Plan for Women 2004–09. The Committee also notes that the Equality Plan for Women 2009–13, to which the Government refers, provides among its areas of action for “wage parity in all productive sectors”. Although emphasis should be placed on the efforts made by the Government to provide statistical data, the Committee observes in particular that the indicators on the economically active population by branch of economic activity are not sufficient for an adequate evaluation of the employment situation of women and their remuneration as they are not disaggregated by sex and do not include information on the remuneration earned by men and women. The Committee emphasizes the importance of having available full information allowing an appropriate evaluation of the type, level and causes of differences in remuneration between men and women and the progress achieved in the application of the principle of the Convention. The Committee, therefore, asks the Government as follows:

• (i) to continue its efforts with a view to compiling statistics and any other type of information disaggregated by sex as a basis for determining the remuneration gap between men and women workers by sector and its causes, and to assess the respective trends, and provide information in that regard;
• (ii) report on the implementation of the Equality Plan for Women 2009–13, particularly concerning the measures adopted to achieve equal wages parity; and
• (iii) provide information on any other measures adopted by the Ministry for Women with a view to achieving the objectives of the Convention.

Legislation. The Committee asks the Government to take the necessary measures to include in the legislation the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value, and to provide information on any progress achieved in this respect.