Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Armenia (Ratification: 1994)

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Articles 1(b) and 2(2)(a) of the Convention. Equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. Legislation. The Committee notes with regret that the Government did not seize the opportunity of the revision of the Labour Code in September 2019 and May 2023 to bring section 178 of the Labour Code in full conformity with the principle of the Convention that is to include the concept of work of equal value in its legislation. It wishes to stress once again that the concept of “work of equal value” lies at the heart of the fundamental right of equal remuneration for women and men for work of equal value as it permits a broad scope of comparison, including, but going beyond equal remuneration for “equal”, “the same” or “similar” work, and also encompasses work that is of an entirely different nature, which is nevertheless of equal value (see the 2012 General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, paragraph 673). The Committee further draws the Government’s attention to the fact that “work of equal value” for women and men can: (1) be performed under different working conditions; (2) require different qualifications or skills; (3) require different levels of effort; and (4) involve different responsibilities. When determining the value of jobs, while examining different jobs, the value does not have to be the same with respect to each factor. Determining the value is about the overall value of the job when factors such as working conditions, qualifications or skills, effort and responsibilities are considered together. The Committee therefore stresses the importance of assessing the “value” – that is, namely the worth of a job for the purpose of determining remuneration – through objective job evaluation, which is used to establish classification of jobs and the corresponding salary scales without gender bias. The Committee asks the Government to: (i) take the necessary steps to give full legislative expression and effect to the principle of equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value set out in the Convention; and (ii) ensure that the determination of work of equal value is based on objective job evaluation, using criteria such as qualifications and skills, responsibility, efforts and conditions of work.

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