Iceland

International Framework
Pay Equity Legislation
Transparency Measures
Minimum Wage
Collective Bargaining
Other Information

Has the country ratified ILO Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100)?

Yes

If yes, when?

1958

Has the country ratified ILO Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111)?

Yes

If yes, when?

1963

Has the country ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women?

Yes

If yes, when?

1985

OECD's Recommendation of the Council on Gender Equality in Education, Employment and Entrepreneurship

Applicable

Does the law mandate equal remuneration for men and women workers for work of equal value?

Yes

Legislative reference

2020, Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of the Genders (No. 150), Section 6 Available, in the original version, here.
2020, Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of the Genders (No. 150) mandates that all employees, regardless of their Gender, shall be paid equal wages and enjoy equal terms of employment for the same jobs or jobs of equal value. In particular, its section 6 on General provisions on equal pay states that:"Women, men and people with neutral gender registration in the National Registry shall be paid equal wages and enjoy the same terms for the same or equally valuable jobs.
Equal pay means that pay should be determined in the same way for people regardless of gender.
The criteria on which a wage decision is based shall not include gender discrimination.
Employees shall always be allowed to declare their wages if they so choose."

If not, does the law mandate equal pay for equal work and/or non-discrimination in relation to employment and occupation?

Yes

Legislative reference

Are there any category of workers excluded?

No provisions could be located

Is there a definition of remuneration?

The 2020 Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of the Genders in Sections 2(9) defines "wages" as "ordinary remuneration for work and further payments of all types, direct and indirect, whether they take the form of perquisites or other forms, paid by the employer to the employee for his or her work." Section 6 defines "equal wages" as "wages [that] shall be determined in the same way for all Genders . Section 6 further provides that "Workers shall at all times, upon their choice, be permitted to disclose their wage terms."

Is there a definition of work of equal value?

The 2020 Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of the Genders in Section 6 provides that "equal wages" are "wages [that] shall be determined in the same way for the Genders. The criteria on the basis of which wages are determined shall not involve gender discrimination."

Does the law mandate for objective job evaluation (to ensure equal pay for work of equal value)?

The Equal Pay Standard mandates for objective job evaluation. More information available here.

Does the country have proactive and wage transparency laws and measures to address discriminatory pay gap (including any other measures to address undervaluation of women's work)?

Yes

If yes, which laws and measures?

The Act on Equal Status and Equal Rights of the Genders No. 150/2020 requires a company or institution with an average of 25 or more employees to acquire certification on an annual basis to confirm that the equal pay system meets the requirements of the Equal Pay Standard IST 85:2012. Equal pay certification under the Standard ÍST 85:2012 is designed to confirm that when decisions on wage are taken, they are based only on relevant considerations.

Are there any provisions on minimum wage?

Yes

If yes, could you please specify whether at the national and/or sectoral level?

Sectoral

If yes, could you please provide details and appropriate reference?

Iceland does not have a single minimum wage for all sectors. Each sector decides on the minimum wage in their collective bargaining agreements. In addition, the Act on Working Terms and Pension Rights Insurance, No. 55/1980 from 1980 prohibits "poorer working terms than those specified in the general collective agreement" (Article 1). Available, in the original version, here.

Are there any provisions in collective agreements related to the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value?

No provisions could be located

Other useful info

N/A

Other useful databases

ILO NORMLEX website
ILO NATLEX website