Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

1. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report. In its previous comments, the Committee had noted that women represented only 35.7 per cent of employees in the public service, and that the majority of women working in the public service were concentrated in categories No. 2 (37.88 per cent were women), No. 3 (54.52 per cent were women) and No. 4 (24.72 per cent were women), while being under-represented in category No. 1 (5.87 per cent were women) and in the higher categories (0.89 per cent were women). It noted that the majority of women (56.54 per cent) working in the public service had the diploma of college societies, while few had higher level diplomas in comparison with men. It also noted that the majority of women working for the Ministry of Health were nurses while the positions of responsibility were practically all held by men. In light of these figures, the Committee requested the Government to indicate the measures which had been taken or were envisaged with regard to recruitment policy and further training policy (which largely determines promotion policy) to achieve an overall increase in the participation of women in the public service, and particularly at the higher levels.

2. The Committee notes the adoption of the new Civil Service Act No. 55 of 2002 and will examine its contents at its next session, following translation. It notes the Government’s explanations with respect to the tasks that correspond to the abovementioned categories 2, 3 and 4, and the Government’s statement that it is adopting a policy of non-discrimination in employment on the basis of rules governing the selection and appointment of employees in public service posts. The Government also states that the Civil Service Regulations have given the opportunity to women employees to fill all jobs including high-level and leading posts without restrictions and difference in the requirements needed for jobs and their right to apply for these posts. The Government also declares that the abovementioned statistics prove that there are no discriminatory practices in employment, but indicate the participation of women in accordance with their educational levels and practical experience. Recalling the importance of the State’s responsibility in pursuing a policy of equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment under its control, the Committee wishes to point out that in order to achieve such equality, it is often necessary to adopt special positive measures to promote equal access of women to employment and occupation; also the prohibition of discrimination is not sufficient in itself for the disappearance of discrimination in practice, even where legal provisions are correctly applied. The Committee, therefore, requests the Government to indicate the targeted measures taken to improve women’s educational attainment, technical skills and practical experiences of women, so that they are able to compete on an equal basis with men for all posts in the civil service, especially higher level posts.

3. The Committee notes that the Government’s report, once again, does not provide any information on how the Government is promoting a national policy of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation with respect to the other grounds covered by the Convention. It therefore requests the Government to indicate in its next report how protection against discrimination in employment and occupation on the basis of race, colour, national extraction, religion, political opinion and social origin is ensured in law and practice.

The Committee is raising related and other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.