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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation, which read as follows:

1. Equality of treatment between men and women. Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. The Committee recalls its previous observation which, among other issues, addressed the low number of managerial posts held by women in the public service (11.2 per cent at the P2/S2 ranks and 10.38 per cent in the P3/S3 ranks), the very high adult female illiteracy rate (71 per cent) and the low level of education, especially of rural women, and the discrimination they face in accessing productive resources that would improve their working and living conditions. These issues had also been the subject of comments raised by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) in 2002. The Committee had noted the Government’s reply that it was committed to reaching a target of 30 per cent of women in political and decision-making structures by 2005. It also noted the Government’s efforts to correct disparities in educational opportunities for girls and boys such as, among others, the girls’ attainment of basic literacy and education (GABLE) programme, and providing credit facilities to rural women. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on the implementation of the abovementioned initiatives, including the results achieved.

2. Access of women to the public service. Further to its observation on Convention No. 100, the Committee notes from the new civil service job grades and salary structure that the managerial positions P4/S4 and above now correspond to grades “E” to “A”. The Committee also notes the Government’s explanations that the statistics of July 2004 show that women in managerial positions from P4/S4 and above total 14 per cent. However, it must observe that this information merely confirms previous figures without providing further details on the specific measures taken to promote women’s employment in those public service posts in which they are under-represented, and to reach the target of 30 per cent. The Committee recalls the importance of the State’s responsibility in pursuing a policy of equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment under its control. It therefore requests the Government to indicate in its next report the measures taken or envisaged, especially with regard to its recruitment policy and further training policy, to achieve an overall increase in the participation of women in higher level posts in the public service. Please also provide statistical information, disaggregated by sex, on the results obtained.

3. Equality of opportunity and treatment with respect to productive resources. With respect to access of rural women farmers to productive resources, the Committee notes that the National Association for Business Women (NABW) has trained 15,000 women in rural and urban areas on how to run small businesses and that the Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA) has assisted women in rural areas by providing them with soft loans as a way of reducing unemployment and poverty. While welcoming the abovementioned initiatives, the Committee also notes from the information submitted by the Malawi Congress of Trade Unions (MCTU), dated 26 December 2004, on Convention No. 100, that rural women face tough loan conditions, especially from FINCA, a situation which is, however, denied by the Government in its reply received on 14 October 2005. It asks the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to facilitate access to soft loans for rural women and to continue to supply information on the number of rural women who have benefited from the abovementioned credit facilities. Please also provide information on any other measures taken or envisaged to enhance equal opportunity and treatment for rural women in productive employment, and the results achieved.

4. Access to education. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it is continuing the GABLE programme and that a number of girls have been admitted to university under its policy to facilitate women’s admission to university. Noting that the Government intends to supply the statistical data requested on women’s and girls’ educational attainment and on the results achieved of its programmes to correct disparities in education for girls and boys, the Committee trusts that such statistics will be included in the Government’s next report.

The Committee is raising other and related points in a request addressed directly to the Government.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.