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The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no reply to its previous comments. It hopes that the next report will include full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Domestic workers and casual workers. The Committee recalls that casual workers and family workers are excluded from the scope of General Labour Act No. 2/00 (section 2(d) and (e)). In this regard, the Committee asks the Government to clarify whether the term “family work” in section 2(d) refers to work performed by a member of the family or whether it refers to a non-family member working as a household employee.

Sexual harassment. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that no records are available concerning cases of sexual harassment at the workplace. To prevent acts of violence and sexual harassment at the workplace, the Ministry of Family and Women’s Empowerment set up family counselling centres where experts such as psychologists and lawyers provide counselling services for victims of violence and sexual harassment. The Government also refers to efforts by the Government and the social partners to raise awareness among women of their rights. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to prevent and address sexual harassment at work. Please indicate whether any awareness-raising campaigns specifically on the issue of sexual harassment have been undertaken.

Workers with family responsibilities. The Committee recalls that section 280 of the General Labour Act commits the State to implement progressively a national network of child-care facilities, including nurseries, day-care centres and pre-school centres of adequate size and in appropriate locations. Pursuant to section 280(2), enterprises of a certain size are required to provide adequate facilities and the Government is to provide appropriate human and technical resources. The Committee notes that 54 day-care centres in rural areas, in addition to the 69 existing ones, had been built in 2007 under the responsibility of the National Directorate for Children within the Ministry of Assistance and Reinsertion (MINARS). In addition, MINARS oversees 508 privately run day-care centres. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the implementation of section 280 of the General Labour Act, including on the provision of child-care services by enterprises.

Discrimination based on religion. The Committee notes from the report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief concerning her mission to Angola in November 2007 that section 5 of Act No. 2/04 on freedom of religion, conscience and worship recognizes the principle of non-discrimination because of religious belief in employment (A/HRC/7/10/Add.1, 6 March 2008, paragraph 11). The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of Act No. 2/04 and to indicate whether any violations of section 5 have been addressed by the competent authorities.

Special measures of protection. The Committee recalls that section 269(4) of the General Labour Act states that a list of the jobs that women are precluded from performing is established by executive decree issued jointly by the ministries of labour and health. It notes the Government’s indication that this matter will be addressed as part of the planned legislative review. The Committee reminds the Government that protective measures with regard to women based on stereotypical perceptions of their abilities and their role in society violate the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary steps to ensure that protective measures for women are strictly limited to maternity protection, and requests the Government to keep it informed of progress made in this regard.