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The Committee takes note of the first report of the Government. It would like to draw attention to the following points:

Article 3 of the Convention. The Committee notes that although the national Constitution provides that "men and women enjoy equal opportunities and bear equal responsibilities", and contains several provisions relating to non-discrimination and the protection of the working mother, the national legislation does not make specific reference to workers with family responsibilities, and it appears that there is no policy aiming at enabling persons with family responsibilities to exercise their right to be employed without being subject to discrimination and, to the extent possible, without conflict between their employment and family responsibilities. The Committee hopes that the next report will indicate the measures taken or envisaged to adopt such a policy, as called for in Article 3 of the Convention.

Article 4(b). The report states that collective agreements take into consideration the needs of workers with family responsibilities and grant them indemnities. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply with its next report the texts of collective agreements which provide special measures for workers with family responsibilities as regards conditions of employment and social security. In this regard, the Committee refers to Paragraphs 17 to 23 of the Workers with Family Responsibilities Recommendation (No. 165), 1981, which provide examples of arrangements which may enable workers with family responsibilities to reconcile their employment with their family responsibilities and Paragraphs 27 to 31 which indicate the type of measures which could be taken in the area of social security.

Article 5. The report states that day-care facilities are provided for the children of workers in the public sector. The Committee hopes that the Government will indicate, in its next report, the means by which these facilities are ensured and the measures taken to provide such facilities for the private sector. It also requests the Government to indicate the number and nature of community child-care and family services and facilities, in compliance with the report form.

Article 6. The report states that no specific measures of information and education have been taken to promote a better understanding of the principles of equality of opportunity and treatment for men and women workers and of the problems of workers with family responsibilities. The Committee stresses the importance of the measures provided for by this Article of the Convention and hopes that the next report will indicate the progress made in this regard (in this connection see Paragraphs 10 and 11 of Recommendation No. 165).

Article 7. The report states that no special measures have been taken in the field of vocational guidance and training for workers with family responsibilities. However, it is proposed to bring the Convention to the attention of the authorities responsible for planning, vocational training and employment, so that they take it into consideration in restructuring their activities. The Committee hopes that the next report will indicate the measures taken or envisaged to give effect to Article 7 of the Convention, and it draws attention to Paragraphs 12 to 15 of Recommendation No. 165, which give examples of measures that may be taken.

Article 8. The report states that in the national legislation family responsibilities do not constitute a valid reason to terminate an employment relationship. The Committee hopes that the next report will provide the information called for in the report form.

Article 11. The Government is asked to indicate the manner in which the participation of employers' and workers' organisations provided for in this Article is ensured.

Point V of the report form. The report states that the majority of the population has family responsibilities. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply, in its next report, statistical data on the numbers and breakdown by sex of workers with family responsibilities who are in employment or are seeking work, if such data are available.