Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Central African Republic (Ratification: 1964)

1. The Committee notes that the Government's report contains only brief information in reply to the comments it has been making for several years on the application in practice of the principle enshrined in the Convention. In this regard, the Committee wishes to draw the Government's attention to its 1984 general observation to the effect that, in the absence of detailed reports from governments, it has considerable difficulty in drawing conclusions about the real situation as respects equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value. It therefore hopes that the Government will do everything possible to supply the information and documents requested below in its next report.

2. Noting that the National Manpower Office has a monopoly on placing workers and is also responsible for the objective evaluation of jobs on the basis of the work to be performed, the Committee has been requesting the Government since 1990 to indicate the criteria used by the Manpower Office to assess the qualifications of jobseekers and to evaluate the requirements of the employer and the nature of the work to be performed when it determines the remuneration of those concerned. The Committee must therefore reiterate its request for information on the manner in which the Manpower Office ensures application of the Convention in practice.

3. The Committee recalls that it has been asking the Government since 1983 to supply copies of collective agreements, if possible those applicable to activities employing a large number of women. It notes that, according to the Government's report, the Government makes every effort to promote and encourage collective bargaining for determining wages and that the commissions responsible for negotiating such agreements or Conventions are chaired by labour administration officials. It would be grateful if the Government would supply details on the role of the labour administration officials in the free negotiation of wages in regard to the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value as well as supplying copies of collective agreements (the sections concerning the determination of wage rates may be sufficient).