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

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report.

1. With reference to its previous request, the Committee once again asks the Government to indicate whether the seminars, meetings and conferences, the Action Plan "More and Better Jobs for Women in Mexico", and the awareness campaigns on labour rights and obligations for women, undertaken by the General Directorate of Equality and Gender, include the problem of compulsory pregnancy tests as part of the recruitment procedure, especially in export processing zones. Please provide copies of related materials, such as pamphlets, reports and directives.

2. The statistical information provided by the Government shows that in June 1999 women accounted for 49 per cent of the workforce in the maquiladora industry. However, while women represent almost half of workers in export processing zones, most of them are concentrated in the lower wage scales. For example, women account of 22 per cent of managerial posts, compared with 55 per cent of jobs as general workers, and their wages are lower than those of men at all levels. The Committee therefore requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures which have been taken or are envisaged in relation to training and employment services so that women can have access to higher skilled and better paid jobs and it asks it to provide information on any progress achieved in this respect.

3. With reference to its previous comments in which it requested information on the remedial programmes intended to overcome the educational backwardness of rural and indigenous communities, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that it is providing support for academic training for indigenous people through a programme of grants for poor indigenous students. Noting that this programme is intended for university-level students, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the efforts made to ensure that members of rural and indigenous communities, and particularly women, have access to both primary and higher education.