CMNT_TITLE

Repetition

Article 4 of the Convention. Right to leave. The Committee notes that the Government, in reply to its request, indicates that the matter of extending to men the possibility of taking the unpaid leave provided for in section 153.4 of the Labour Code, following the birth of a child, will be examined when the Labour Code is next revised. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any developments in this regard.

Article 5. Childcare and family services and facilities. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, the new structure responsible for matters relating to workers’ family responsibilities has not yet been established. The Committee emphasizes the importance of creating and developing childcare services and facilities to enable workers with family responsibilities, particularly women on whom such responsibilities primarily fall in practice, to access employment and be engaged in employment, and of promoting equality of opportunity and treatment for such workers vis-à-vis workers without family responsibilities. The Committee requests the Government: (i) to adopt measures to take account of the needs of workers with family responsibilities in community planning, at the local or regional level; (ii) to develop or promote community services, public or private, such as childcare and family services, and facilities; and (iii) and to provide information on any measures taken in this regard. The Government is also once again requested to provide information on the number and capacity of existing childcare structures.

Article 7. Labour market integration. The Committee notes that, according to the Government’s indications, measures are envisaged to enable workers to re-enter the labour market following an absence due to family responsibilities through the creation, within the National Office of Vocational Training and Development, of an “informal sector” section tasked with organizing and overseeing training, development, transition, reintegration and reorientation activities. The Committee requests the Government to provide information, including statistics, on the training courses that are actually offered to workers following an absence due to family responsibilities.

Article 8. Protection against dismissal. The Committee recalls that the Labour Code does not expressly provide that family responsibilities shall not, as such, constitute a valid reason for termination of employment. In the absence of a reply on this matter, the Committee once again requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that family responsibilities do not constitute a valid reason for termination of employment.

Article 11. Employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee notes that the Government reaffirms that, in general, employers’ and workers’ organizations have the right to participate in the drafting of texts and are always consulted. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the relevant advisory body, that is, the Labour and Social Legislation Advisory Commission, deals with matters relating to workers with family responsibilities.