Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Viet Nam (Ratification: 1997)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments initially made in 2015.The Committee also notes that the Government had been requested to provide information to the Committee on the Application of Standards at the 106th Session of the International Labour Conference for failure to supply reports and information on the application of ratified Conventions.

Repetition

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Legislative developments. Definition of remuneration and work of equal value. The Committee notes that the new Labour Code (Law No. 10/2012/QH13 of 18 June 2012) includes the principle of equal payment of wages without discrimination based on gender for employees performing work of equal value (section 90(3)) and provides for a definition of wages that includes “remuneration” based on the work or position, “wage allowances” and “other additional payments” (section 90(1)), but is silent about payment in kind. The Committee points out that Article 1(a) of the Convention sets out a very broad definition of “remuneration” which includes not only “the ordinary, basic or minimum wage or salary” but also “additional emoluments whatsoever payable directly or indirectly, whether in cash or in kind, by the employer to the worker and arising out of the workers’ employment”. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether payment in kind would be covered by section 9(3) of the new Labour Code and to provide information on its implementation and enforcement. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to raise awareness of these provisions among workers, employers, their respective organizations and enforcement public officials, as well as any administrative or judicial cases in this respect.

Assessing and addressing the gender wage gap. The Committee notes the results of the labour force survey (second quarter of 2014) published by the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, according to which the overall gender wage gap in average monthly earnings of workers is 9.3 per cent. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government with respect to measures taken to implement the National Strategy on Gender Equality (2011–20), through the strengthening of capacity building; the drafting, implementation and monitoring of gender equality legislation, awareness-raising activities; and the development of a gender database and advisory and support services. While noting these important developments with respect to the promotion and implementation of gender equality, the Committee requests the Government to indicate how these measures have an impact on reducing the persistent gender wage gap and to provide specific information on any measures taken or envisaged to address underlying causes. The Committee once again requests the Government to collect and provide more specific statistical data, disaggregated by sex, on the distribution of men and women in different sectors of economic activity, occupational categories and positions and their corresponding earnings both in the private and public sectors.

Enforcement. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the Ministry has conducted many training courses on labour laws, including on equal remuneration for work of equal value, for labour inspectors and others officials. It further notes that there has not been any administrative and judicial case concerning equal remuneration for men and women. Regarding the latter point, the Committee recalls that where no cases or complaints, or very few, are being lodged, this is likely to indicate a lack of an appropriate legal framework, a lack of awareness of rights, lack of confidence in, or absence of, practical access to procedures, or fear of reprisals (see General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, 2012, paragraph 870). The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the training offered to judges, inspectors and other labour officials, as well as awareness-raising measures provided to social partners. It further requests the Government to provide information on any violations of the principle of the Convention detected by, or brought to the attention of, the labour inspectorate services, the sanctions imposed and the remedies provided.

The Committee is raising other points 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.