In the Nizip district of Gaziantep, news on gender-based discrimination among the wages set for agricultural workers working in pistachio orchards and that the wage set for female workers is less than the wage set for male workers has been reflected in the written and visual media.

Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work.” Article 11 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, entitled “Equal opportunities in the field of employement”, states that States Parties to the Convention shall take all necessary and appropriate measures to prevent discrimination against women in the field of employment, including social benefits, to ensure the right to equal pay, equal treatment for work of equivalent value and equal treatment in the evaluation of the gender of work.

Furthermore, the Equal Remuneration Convention No. 100, adopted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) on June 6, 1951, stipulates that men and women shall have equal pay and social rights for equal work. This convention was ratified by Türkiye on July 19, 1967 and entered into force. Article 1 of the Convention states “Equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value”.

In our national legislation, Article 10 of the Constitution titled “Equality before the law” stipulates that Everyone is equal before the law without distinction as to language, race, colour, sex, political opinion, philosophical belief, religion and sect, or any such grounds; Article 3 of the Law No. 6701 on the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye prohibits discrimination based on the grounds of “sex, race, colour, language, religion, belief, sect, philosophical or political opinion, ethnical origin, wealth, birth, marital status, health status, disability and age.” in the exercise of legally recognized rights and freedoms.

Our Institution, which is authorized to inquire into violations of non-discrimination principle ex officio and main mission of which is to guarantee individuals’ right to equal treatment, prevention of discrimination in the exercise of legally recognized rights and freedoms, closely follows the aforementioned allegations reflected in the written and visual media.

Respectfully anounced to the public.