CMNT_TITLE

1. Social security. The Committee notes that section 60(a) of Social Security Law No. 92 of 1959, as amended, states that, if a female insured person resigns due to marriage or pregnancy with her first child within six months of marriage or giving birth, she shall receive a compensation of 15 per cent of her average salary. The Committee considers that section 60(a), in reinforcing stereotyped perceptions of the role of men and women in society, in particular the perception that women should bare the sole burden of family and childcare responsibilities, generates inequalities between men and women in the labour market and constitutes direct discrimination based on sex with regard to remuneration. The Committee asks the Government to repeal section 60(a) of the Social Security Act of 1959 and to consider taking measures to ensure that both men and women who take career breaks due to family responsibilities are entitled to benefits, and to keep the Committee informed of the progress made in this regard.

2. Occupational segregation as a cause for inequalities in remuneration. Further to its observation, the Committee notes the statistics for 2004 on the distribution of men and women by economic activity and salary groups. The statistics indicate that women continue to be concentrated in the agriculture and forest activities, primarily in cooperatives and collectives (47 per cent) and the private sector (49.5 per cent); and in services, mainly in the public sector (92.5 per cent),but also in the private sector (19.5 per cent). The Committee notes from the Government’s report that one of the expected outcomes of the Five-year Plan (2006–10) is to contribute to poverty alleviation through raising women’s educational level and increasing women’s participation in economic activity. The Government recognizes, however, that the efforts aimed at integrating women in the economic, political and social spheres shall not be easy due to the traditional views held vis-à-vis women, which requires a process of change in behaviour. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the following points:

(a)   the concrete measures taken, and the results achieved, under the Five-year Plan (2006–10) to improve the access of women to better paid occupations, and to raise their education and skills levels to enable them to move to occupations that attract higher pay;

(b)   the measures taken to address traditional views and stereotypical assumptions that may exist regarding women’s aspirations, preferences, capabilities and “suitability” for certain jobs; and

(c)   referring to its previous comments, the action taken to improve the situation of women in “special occupations”, including information on the remuneration paid in these female-dominated occupations in comparison to remuneration paid in male-dominated occupations.

3. The Committee notes the promulgation of Act No. 42, 2003, establishing the Syrian Agency of Family Affairs. Recalling that household and family responsibilities being primarily borne by women contributes to women often choosing to enter into jobs and occupations which are less career-oriented and lower paid, the Committee asks the Government to indicate, in its next report, the activities by the Syrian Agency for Family Affairs to assist women in better harmonizing work and family responsibilities, and to promote a better sharing of family responsibilities between women and men, so as to enable women to enter into better-paid occupations.

4. Statistical information. The Committee notes the statistics on average monthly earnings of men and women for the year 2002–05 but observes that these statistics are very general and do not indicate any differentials in earnings that might exist between jobs or occupations in which men or women are concentrated, and which are of a different nature but of equal value. The Committee, recalling its observation of 1998 on this Convention (attached for ease of reference), asks the Government to provide more detailed statistics on the distribution of men and women by earnings level and by occupation or occupational groups or/and by branch of economic activity.

5. Cooperation with the social partners. The Committee notes the information on the non-governmental organizations playing a role in focusing attention on women’s issues. The Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report how it is cooperating with these organizations as well as with the social partners to promote the principle of the Convention, and the results achieved.