Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

1. Equal access of the Roma to education and training. The Committee notes that the Government’s report contains no information concerning measures taken to promote the access of the Roma in education and training, on an equal footing with other parts of the population. Recalling that the enjoyment of equality of opportunity and treatment in these areas is a fundamental precondition for equality for achieving equality employment and occupation, the Committee reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on the measures taken to promote access of the Roma to education at the different levels, including education provided in their mother tongue.

2. Position of men and women in the labour market. The Committee notes that according to data compiled by the ILO the position of men and women in the labour market remained relatively unchanged between 2003–06, with continuing gender-based occupational segregation, both horizontal and vertical. In 2006, women represented 45 per cent of the economically active population (44.8 per cent in 2003). They continue to be over-represented in education, health and social work, and the hotel and restaurant sectors. With regard to the distribution of men and women in the various occupational groups, the Committee notes that in 2006 women’s share among legislators, senior officials and managers was 30.3 per cent, down from 31.2 per cent in 2003. Women’s share among crafts and related trade workers was at 26.5 per cent (27.4 per cent in 2003). The representation of women in the group of sales and service workers slightly decreased to 64.9 per cent in 2006 from 67.3 per cent in 2003. Women’s representation in the group clerks remains very high at around 70 per cent. As regard status of employment, the share of women among contributing family workers remains disproportionate, their proportion slightly decreasing from 71.2 to 69.1 per cent.

3. The Committee notes that the Government approved the National Strategy and General Plan of Action for Equal Opportunities of Women and Men for 2006‑09 (Decision No. 319 of 8 March 2006). The action plan envisages the launching of information campaigns on equality in the labour market; promotion of equal access of men and women to initial and lifelong learning; promotion of women and men’s access to economic activities in which they have low participation; promotion of the principle of equal remuneration for work of equal value; promotion of flexible working time; action to increase transparency at all levels of promotion; and identification of employment opportunities for women at risk of social exclusion. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the specific measures taken:

(a)       under the National Strategy and General Action Plan for 2006–09 to achieve gender equality in employment and occupation as outlined above, including action taken to tackle the existing gender-based occupational segregation in the labour market, including through vocational training and guidance; and

(b)      to seek the collaboration of workers’ and employers’ organizations with a view to promoting and achieving gender equality in employment and occupation, as well as information on how gender equality issues are being addressed in collective agreements and at the enterprise level.