Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

1.  The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report and the attached report on activities undertaken to implement the recommendations of the Beijing Conference (1995-99). The report details the various measures including the Edutech 2000 project on integration of technology into the primary and secondary school levels, the creation of an association to address the needs of women in the agriculture sector (Women in Agriculture in Barbados), and the proposal for a law on sexual harassment in the workplace, among others. It requests the Government to continue to provide information on these and other measures aimed at achieving equality of opportunity and treatment for men and women in employment and occupation.

2.  Regarding the plan to provide training for labour inspectors, the Committee notes that this has not yet taken place. It recalls its previous comment on the possibility of requesting technical assistance from the ILO in this regard, and asks the Government to keep it informed on concrete measures taken by the labour inspectorate to promote the Convention, and their impact.

3.  The Committee notes the various activities of the Bureau of Women’s Affairs aimed at promoting equality of opportunity and treatment for women and men. It notes its efforts to mainstream gender into national development programmes including in the national development plan for the new millennium, the pilot project on the budgetary process, the inclusion of disaggregated data in the national census and in the labour market information system database among others. It also notes that the revision of the National Policy Statement on Women, which aims to incorporate sectoral policies and approaches, has not yet been completed. It further notes the statistical analysis of gender equity in national bodies and commissions carried out by the Bureau which found that women’s participation on such bodies was low. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the activities of the Bureau for Women’s Affairs to apply the Convention in achieving equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation. It also asks to be kept informed on the progress of the National Policy, and to be provided with a copy when completed.

4.  The Committee recalls its previous comment regarding the work of the National Advisory Board on Women which is responsible for researching, monitoring and advising on matters affecting women, including discrimination complaints, and asks the Government to provide such information in its next report.

5.  Regarding the Government’s statement that there are no laws to ensure the effective application of provisions and policy on equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation, the Committee asks whether any measures have been taken or are contemplated to adopt a legislative enactment to provide a framework for its activities in this regard.