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The Committee notes that the Government’s brief report along with the supplementary document provided by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security do not fully respond to the questions raised in the Committee’s earlier comments. The Committee hopes that the report supplied to the Committee for examination at its next session will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous observation.

1. Discrimination on the basis of religion. The Committee noted in its previous comments the Government’s confirmation that constitutional articles referring to fundamental rights of the population, read together, guarantee protection against religious discrimination. Noting that the Government has yet to provide specific information on these provisions, the Committee asks for copies of all judicial decisions concerning these provisions along with information on the measures taken or envisaged to prevent and eliminate religious discrimination in employment and occupation.

2. Discrimination on the basis of sex. The Committee notes the promotional events undertaken by the President of Algeria, as well as by the General Union of Algerian Workers, aimed at fighting discrimination and advancing the role of women in society and the economy. The Committee recalls the Government’s earlier statement that, in practice, women were still confronted with discrimination in employment resulting from stereotypes that exist regarding a woman’s place in society. It also recalls that these attitudes were reflected in the lack of access to non-traditional vocational training opportunities for girls and women, further hindering equality of access to employment. Noting that women still accounted for only 15 per cent of the workforce in 2005, the Committee continues to express its concern regarding the persistence of strong stereotypical attitudes with respect to the roles and responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society and their serious impact on the employment and vocational training opportunities of women in practice. The Committee, therefore, again urges the Government to take urgent and proactive measures to further its national policy to promote equality of opportunity and treatment of women in respect of employment and occupation, including efforts to address stereotypical attitudes, and to keep the Committee informed of any progress in this regard. It also requests the Government to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to facilitate and encourage access of women and girls to more diversified vocational training opportunities, including those leading to traditionally male occupations, so as to afford them a greater chance of entry into the labour market.

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