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

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Honduras (Ratification: 1956)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to its previous comments. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous observation, which read as follows:

Repetition

Article 1 of the Convention. Work of equal value. The Committee has been referring for many years to the need to amend section 44 of the Equal Opportunities for Women Act (LIOM), which establishes the requirement for equal wages for equal work. In this respect, the Committee notes that on 3 December 2008 Regulations under the Act were adopted, but that the Regulations do not contain any provision expanding section 44. The Committee however observes that strategic objective 1.3 of the IInd Gender Equality and Equity Plan, 2010–22, refers to the right to equal remuneration for work of equal value. The Committee once again asks the Government to give full legislative expression to 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. The Committee also asks the Government to indicate any measure adopted in accordance with the IInd Gender Equality and Equity Plan, 2010–22.

Objective job evaluation. Articles 2 and 3. The Committee notes that, in relation to the objective evaluation of jobs, the Government only refers to evaluations relating to those seeking jobs, and not evaluations of jobs in themselves. The Committee further notes the indication by the Honduran National Business Council (COHEP) in its communication that it is not aware of public or private initiatives undertaken for the purpose of the objective evaluation of jobs. The Committee also notes COHEP’s concern regarding the absence of a job classification system for the civil service, in accordance with sections 12 to 15 of the Civil Service Act, and their indication that there are significant wage disparities in the public sector. According to COHEP, the absence of a harmonized national classification of occupations with tripartite approval makes it difficult to undertake comparisons between jobs and it is not feasible to establish a comparison of the value of the various tasks. The Committee notes that, according to COHEP, at the end of 2006 an inter-institutional working group was established, composed of representatives of the Secretariat of State for the Labour and Social Security Offices, the National Institute of Statistics, the National Institute of Vocational Training, the Secretariat of State for the Education Office, the Honduran Export Processing Association (AHM) and COHEP, to undertake the revision and harmonization of existing classifications.

The Committee asks the Government to take steps to ensure progress is made in developing a national classification system, based on objective and non-discriminatory criteria free from gender bias. The Government is also asked to provide specific information on the progress made in formulating a job classification system for the civil service, and to undertake an examination of the nature and extent of any wage disparities between men and women in the public sector. Please also provide information on the progress made by the inter-institutional working group in undertaking the revision and harmonization of existing classifications.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.