Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

1. The Committee notes that the Government is making a sustained effort to continue to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in employment for women. In addition to the changes to the Labour Code (repeal of section 135 of the Labour Code referring to remuneration for women in agriculture which, according to the Government, could have lead to a discriminatory interpretation, and the incorporation of section 5bis which affirms explicitly the principle of equality between men and women in the world of work), the Committee notes the conclusion of application of the VIIIth Economic and Social Development Plan (1992-96) which, as noted in its previous direct requests, created a special commission "Women and Development" which laid down a strategy for the promotion of women, based essentially on strengthening their role in productive activities and improving the quantity and quality of training for them. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the results obtained and progress made under this strategy and to indicate whether it contemplates proceeding in the new plan with these measures which give effect to Article 2 of the Convention.

2. In regard to the discrimination criteria set out in Article 1, paragraph 1(a), of the Convention, the Committee notes that the Government's report remains silent on discrimination grounds other than sex. In view of the importance of combating discrimination in employment and occupation based on those other criteria, namely race, colour, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin, the Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report all the measures taken, other than those already mentioned, in connection with application of the Convention, to ensure that no discrimination can take place based on these other grounds. The Committee also requests the Government to keep it informed of results in this matter by supplying, for example, all relevant information such as statistics, reports, studies, surveys, etc.