Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

1. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with satisfaction the adoption of Act No. 101/IV/93 to revise the general legal framework governing labour relations, of which section 39(b) prohibits any discrimination on the grounds set out in the Convention, including "colour", which is not explicitly laid down in the Constitution.

2. With regard to the amendment of Legislative Decree No. 83/81 of 18 July 1981, which establishes the requirement in sections 5(c), 7 and 8 that students must join and participate in the activities of the Organization of Cape Verde Students in order to have access to a study fellowship abroad, the Committee notes that the Government refers to the information provided in its previous report. It had indicated that the amendment or repeal of the above provisions of the Legislative Decree was under examination. The Committee notes that it has been commenting on the discriminatory nature of these provisions since 1986 and urges the Government to indicate in its next report the progress achieved in the revision of this text and to provide a copy of the text as soon as it has been amended.

3. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of Legislative Decree No. 1/94 of 10 January 1994 establishing the Institute on the Condition of Women, which provides in section 4 that the Institute is responsible for the promotion of real equality between men and women and for the effective and visible integration of women into all fields of social, economic and political life and in the development of the country. The Committee requests the Government to provide information with its next report on the activities of the Institute as they relate to the promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment in vocational training and employment.

4. The Committee notes, from the statistics on the proportion of girls in comparison with boys participating in the courses organized by the Centre for Administrative Training and Further Training (CNEFA), which were provided in reply to its previous direct request, that the number of girls is very high in branches of training directed towards subordinate functions with a low skills level, in which women are generally predominant, such as typists and receptionists, but that their number is very low in branches of training for functions with a higher level of skills and responsibility, where men are predominant, such as human resources management, administrative management, the settlement of disputes, organization and methods, etc. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information with its next report on the positive measures taken, and the results obtained, to facilitate and encourage the access of women to training, and particularly vocational training and university education, and to particular jobs and occupations, including those traditionally reserved for men and to posts of responsibility.

5. The Committee notes the Government's statement that statistical data on the proportion of women in training and employment are not yet available. The Committee once again requests the Government to endeavour, with the collaboration of employers' and workers' organizations and any other appropriate body for the promotion of women, to compile and analyse data, and particularly statistics, making it possible to gain a better knowledge of the situation of women in respect of employment and training, and to provide them with its next report. The Committee would also be grateful to receive a copy of the national report on the condition of women in Cape Verde that the Government submitted to the Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing in September 1995.