CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report and the attached documentation.

1. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s statement in its report that the allowances provided for in Statutory Instruments Nos. 119 and 120 of 1997 apply equally to both men and women workers. Noting that housing allowances are now a subject for negotiation between the employer and the employees or their trade union, the Committee trusts the Government will undertake to ensure that no differences based on sex in relation to housing or other allowances are permitted to be introduced or applied through such agreements.

2. The Committee asks the Government to continue transmitting the texts of collective agreements covering the various sectors and to supply a copy of the collective agreement from the National Pension Scheme Authority, which it referred to as being attached to its report, but which was not received by the Office. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the future collective agreement between Zambia Oxygen and the National Union of Building Engineering and General Workers will be revised and will state that survival benefits apply to all workers irrespective of sex. It asks the Government to provide a copy of the amended collective agreement with its next report.

3. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that various policies in the fields of education and vocational training have been adopted to promote the employment of women workers in occupations typically dominated by men, such as engineering, motor mechanics, electronic and civil engineering. The Committee therefore once again asks the Government to provide in its next report more detailed information on the specific measures adopted to promote women’s access to vocational training, guidance and counselling and in addition to provide information on any measures that have been taken to promote women workers into decision-making and supervisorial positions generally.

4. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to keep it informed of any developments respecting the establishment of a labour market information system and to provide any available documentation in this respect. The Committee also reiterates its request for the Government to provide statistical information in its next report, if available, on the average wages in the different sectors of the economy, including the mining industry, disaggregated by sex and by occupational category. In this regard, the Committee refers the Government to the general observation of 1998 on this Convention.