Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Czechia (Ratification: 1993)

1. The Committee notes the comments submitted by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) on 5 October 2001 as well as the Government’s reply of 7 December 2001. The ICFTU alleges that national legislation is not in conformity with the Convention as it requires only that women receive equal pay for performing the same work. The ICFTU also states that the salaries of women are approximately 30 per cent lower than those of men and that women are disproportionately over-represented in lower remunerated jobs and under-represented in senior positions. The Committee takes note of the Government’s reply that Act No. 1/1992 on wages and Act No. 143/1992 on salaries have been amended by Act No. 217/2000, which explicitly states that men and women shall receive equal wages or salary for equal work and for work of equal value. The Committee recalls that, in its previous observation, it welcomed these legislative changes requiring payment of equal remuneration for men and women for equal work and work of equal value. Noting, however, that progress still has to be made in reducing the 30 per cent wage gap between men and women, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on the implementation of the provisions of the Labour Code and the relevant Acts regulating remuneration in the public and in the private sectors and on the progress made in the application of the principle in practice.

2. The Committee notes the adoption of Act No. 218/2002 of 26 April 2002 (Civil Service Act). Pending further translation of the Civil Service Act, the Committee will examine the conformity of the Act with the Convention at its next session.

The Committee is addressing a direct request to the Government on other relevant points.