Apply Human Rights

Right to equal pay

Women have the right to equal remuneration for work of equal value. Remuneration here includes the ordinary, basic or minimum wage or salary as well as any other additional benefits, in cash or otherwise, which arise out of the worker’s employment. Equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value refers to rates of remuneration established without discrimination based on sex. This means that work of equal value involves a comparison of the work of the woman placed against that of her comparator under various headings such as “effort”, “skill” and “decision”. Thus allowing for sexually-segregated jobs to be compared with rest of the job market, alleviating the risk of being undervalued.

 

This principle of equal remuneration may be realised through national laws and by States adopting job evaluation systems that are based on gender-neutral criteria.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

 

Conventions:

UN CEDAW, 1979

Article 11 para. 1d

 

 

UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, 1966

Article 7

 

 

International Labour Organisation, Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958

Article 1

 

 

International Labour Organisation, Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951

Articles 1-4

 

 

Declarations:

The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948

Article 23

 

 

Agendas:

UN-Habitat Agenda

para. 78 e

 

UN Resolution 54/4 Women’s economic empowerment

para. 3

para. 14 c

 

Decisions:

UN Decision 54/101 Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to gender equality and empowerment of women

para. 3

 

 

Jurisdictions:

R.K.B. v Turkey

para. 8.9

 

 

Recommendations:

UN Committee’s General Recommendation No. 13 (eighth session, 1989)