Brussels, 22/06/2004 (Agence Europe) - The International Labour Conference held from 1 to 17 June in Geneva between ILO member states (see EUROPE of 12 June, p.15), last week adopted a resolution on "gender equality, pay equity and maternity protection". It calls on the governments, the social partners and ILO to undertake a series of specific actions to address the gender wage gap. The resolution also recognises that quality public services play an all-important role in promoting women's access to employment, a press release from Public Services International (PSI) states. The resolution proposes above all that social partners should negotiate the introduction of gender-neutral job evaluation schemes, statistical indicators, as well as gender and race reviews at the workplace.
The text is the first major statement on gender equality adopted by the ILC since 1985. Commenting on the adoption of the resolution, Nora Wintour, responsible for gender equality issues at the ISP, said: "This successful outcome is the result of a long-term strategy to give pay equity the priority it deserves and to get the issue onto the union agenda". (Information: http://www.world-psi.org or http://www.ilo.org ).
We recall that PSI is a global trade union federation that represents 20 women and men working in the public services around the world.