Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Sao Tome and Principe (Ratification: 1982)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous comments.

Repetition

Article 1 of the Convention. Legislation. The Committee recalls its previous comments in which it noted that the provisions of the Constitution do not fully reflect the Convention’s principle as they refer to equal wages for “equal work” rather than “work of equal value”. Hence, the need to take further legislative action to ensure full compliance with the Convention. The Committee recalls its 2006 general observation, stressing the importance of giving full legislative expression to the principle of the Convention, providing not only for equal remuneration for equal, the same or similar work, but also prohibiting pay discrimination that occurs in situations where men and women perform different work that is nevertheless of equal value (paragraph 6). The Committee, therefore, urges the Government to ensure that the General Labour Act explicitly provides for the right of men and women to receive equal remuneration for work of equal value, in accordance with the Convention, and to indicate any progress made in this regard. The Committee also reminds the Government that ILO technical assistance is available and asks the Government to consider forwarding a copy of the draft legislation to the Office for its review.

Article 4. Cooperation with workers’ and employers’ organizations. The Committee recalls the important role of workers’ and employers’ organizations with respect to giving effect to the provisions of the Convention. It therefore asks the Government to seek the cooperation of these organizations with regard to the establishment of an appropriate legislative framework to apply the Convention, as indicated above, as well as with regard to practical measures to ensure equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. Please provide information on the progress made in this regard.

The Committee recalls that it raised 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.