Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

1. The Committee notes with interest the initiatives of the Government to integrate gender concerns in the enforcement of labour standards, by incorporating violations of Act No. 6725 (an Act strengthening prohibition on discrimination against women of 12 May 1989) as part of the items on inspection lists, as well as by prescribing women workers as one of the inspection priorities in 1997 under Administrative Order No. 47, series of 1997, issued by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the findings of the labour inspectorate in this regard.

2. The Committee notes with interest the information provided on the implementation of the project to eliminate sexual harassment, including the development of the model company policy and procedures, training modules and the numerous training activities, carried out on sexual harassment by the Bureau of Women and Young Workers of the DOLE. It asks the Government to continue to provide information on the activities of the project and the results achieved. It requests, in particular, information on the findings of the Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC), through the Labor Inspectorate Program, with regard to the number of companies that, so far, have developed Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) under Act No. 7877 (Anti-Sexual Harassment Act, 1995) and their functioning. Noting the attachment to the Government's report entitled "Oversight review of laws on women: Issues and Recommendations", which highlights various issues regarding the implementation of Act No. 7877, the Committee requests the Government to indicate measures taken or envisaged to implement the recommendations spelled out in the report, and to continue to provide information on the number and nature of complaints filed, and decisions rendered, under this Act.

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