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Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government on the mandate and activities of the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. The Committee notes that among the complaints received, those relating to discrimination based on pregnancy, parenthood or reserve duty were most frequent. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on specific activities carried out by the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission to address discrimination in employment and occupation, including through cooperation with workers’ and employers’ organizations. Noting that discrimination based on pregnancy and parenthood appears to be frequent, the Committee reiterates its request for information on the implementation of section 4 (parental rights) of the Employment (Equal Opportunities) Act including indications on the extent to which men and women make use of these entitlements, and on any other measures taken or envisaged to promote reconciliation between work and family responsibilities.

Sexual harassment. The Committee notes the information regarding disciplinary proceedings in the civil service relating to sexual harassment, as well as information regarding court cases on this issue. The Authority for Advancing the Status of Women continued to monitor and encourage the designation by employers of persons responsible for dealing with sexual harassment claims which is required under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act; in 2008, some 880 such persons had been designated in the private sector. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to prevent and eliminate sexual harassment at work.

Promotion of gender equality in employment and occupation. The Committee notes the 2008 activity report of the Authority for Advancing the Status of Women, which was included in the Government’s report. The Committee notes that certain difficulties persist with regard to the implementation of section 6C1 of the Equal Rights for Women Law which provides for proper representation of women in public committees or teams shaping national policy. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that there was an increase in the number of women appointed to the boards of directors of government companies between 2006 and 2007, but overall there is no discernable trend towards an equal number of men and women being appointed to such posts. The Committee welcomes the detailed statistical information and analysis provided regarding the representation of women in the civil service, including representation in the various classifications and grades. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the various measures taken to promote equality of opportunity and treatment of men and women in employment and occupation, including the activities of the Authority for Advancing the Status of Women and the measures taken to promote the training, education and employment of women from particularly disadvantaged groups, in particular from the minority groups. The Committee requests the Government to provide specific information on the results achieved by such measures, including detailed statistical information, disaggregated by sex and population group (participation in training schemes, labour force participation, unemployment, representation in the civil service and the various occupations and industries).

Equality of opportunity and treatment irrespective of race, national extraction or religion. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that 44 out of 96 government companies fulfilled the requirement regarding proper representation of the Arab population in the board of directors of these companies. The Committee notes that four companies were classified as “companies in respect of which, according to the nature of their business, directors from the Arab population are not appointed”. The Committee requests the Government to explain the reasons for excluding members of the Arab population from being appointed to the boards of directors of these government companies, and to continue to provide information on the progress made in achieving the proper representation requirements.