Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

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

Article 2 of the Convention. Determination of salaries in the public service. The Committee notes that the Government reiterates previous statements regarding the determination of salaries in the Tokelau public service and differing salary increments. The Committee further notes, however, that the review of the Human Resources Manual for the Public Service, which had started, is currently on hold, awaiting the outcome of the General Fono’s consideration of the report on the Devolution Review, which will issue findings and recommendations regarding the devolution of public services to each of Tokelau’s three village Taupulegas (Council of Elders). The Committee asks the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value is taken into account in the review of the Human Resources Manual, and to provide information on the progress made in reviewing the Manual. It also asks the Government to provide information on the remuneration levels of men and women in the different grades of the Tokelau public service.

The Committee notes from the Government’s report that there are currently 21 members in the public service management team, of whom seven are female and 14 are male. The Committee also notes that of the 61 government employees, 45.9 per cent are female and 42.6 per cent are male. In its previous comments, the Committee asked the Government to indicate the basis for paying different salaries for the same position to senior officials coming from outside of Tokelau. In this regard, the Government indicates that Tokelau expressed the difficulty it has experienced in the last eight years in attracting qualified and experienced people willing to apply to senior management positions in the public service due to salary levels. The Government states that in light of this challenge, Tokelau decided to consider the salary levels in the home market of non-Tokelauan applicants when determining their salaries. The Committee repeats its request for information on whether such differences in salary take the form of a difference in the basic wage or additional allowances. Noting the indication from the National Policy for Women of Tokelau 2010–15 available on the Government’s website that women comprise 81 per cent of the Tokelau public service, the Committee requests information on how this figure corresponds with the abovementioned statistics on women in the public service provided in the Government’s report. Please continue to provide information on the distribution of men and women in all grades and levels of the public service.

Application of the principle in the private sector. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that there have been significant improvements in the level of economic participation of village women in the private sector. The Government indicates that due to the Village Women Cleaning Programme, women are working in the waste management programme for the first time in ten years and are being paid at the same salary level as their male counterparts. The Government indicates that, while men and women may be paid different wages, the principle of equal remuneration is nonetheless respected, as men and women carry out different roles in their communities. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that men tend to work longer hours and are expected to take on heavier workloads under more strenuous conditions. Despite these differences, the Government states that women hold an equally important role in society and that they receive fair remuneration for their contributions to village development. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, in light of the Devolution Review which is currently under way, there is an opportunity to examine women’s roles in the community in order to determine suitable remuneration levels for their contributions. The Committee recalls that, due to historical attitudes and stereotypes, certain jobs are held predominantly or exclusively by women (such as in caring professions) and others by men (such as in construction) (see General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, 2012, paragraph 673). The Committee further recalls that “female jobs” are often undervalued in comparison with work of equal value performed by men when determining wages (ibid.). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on methods used to compare the relative value of different jobs, with a view to ensuring that work performed by women is not undervalued. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to reduce vertical and horizontal occupational segregation, including steps taken to increase women’s access to education and training in sectors which are predominantly male.