Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Legislation. The Committee noted previously that the Industrial Relations Advisory Committee (IRAC) was to discuss the CARICOM model legislation under its 2006–07 workplan with a view to providing advice on the areas in which the national legislation needed to be amended. The Government states in its most recent report that the appointment of the IRAC had been delayed. The Committee notes from the Government’s report under the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), that the members of the IRAC have recently been appointed. The Committee also notes that the National Policy and Action Plan for Gender Equity and Equality in the Commonwealth of Dominica, 2006, recommends that the existing laws be reviewed and brought into line with the CARICOM model law on equal opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation, with specific reference being made to the need to enact legislation on sexual harassment. The Committee hopes that the IRAC will be able to address the issue of the adoption of the CARICOM model law on equal opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation, including with respect to sexual harassment, in the near future, and asks the Government to provide information on progress made in this regard.

Gender equality. The Committee notes that the National Policy and Action Plan indicates that men and women in the employment and occupational structure participate in the economy according to established gender roles, with a strong representation of women in the public service at junior and middle administrative ranks, and in sectors with lower earning potential than men. It goes on to highlight the importance of access to land as the primary factor in an agricultural economy, and notes that women have lower access to land and to credit than men. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the specific measures taken to follow-up on the recommendations set out in the National Policy and Action Plan for Gender Equity and Equality to promote women’s equality of opportunity and treatment in education, employment and occupation. The Committee also requests specific information on any measures taken to improve women’s access to decision-making and management positions, and positions with improved career prospects, in both the public and private sectors. Noting that the National Policy refers to the need for sex‑disaggregated data to inform all economic policy actions, the Committee hopes that such data, including on the participation of women and men in employment and training, as well as in access to land and credit, will be collected and analysed, and asks that such statistical information be provided.

Ethnic minorities. The Committee notes the Government’s commitment to providing statistical information on the number of Caribs participating in training and employment. It states that there will be a meeting with the Statistical Department and the Carib Council and all institutions involved in vocational training and employment by the middle of 2010, to provide statistics disaggregated by sex and ethnicity. The Committee also notes from the Government’s report under the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989 (No. 169), that an Integrated Development Plan for Caribs has been developed. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of the Development Plan for Caribs as it relates to promoting equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation with a view to eliminating discrimination. The Committee also hopes that the Government will be able to provide statistical information on participation in employment and training, disaggregated by sex and ethnicity, with its next report. The Committee also requests the Government to provide any further information on measures taken to assess and address the situation of the Caribs and other ethnic minorities in respect of training and employment.

Cooperation with workers’ and employers’ organizations. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that within the last year, the Department of Labour has received and accepted six invitations from employers’ and workers’ organizations to provide lectures and facilitate seminars on equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation and other related employment issues. The Government also states that the Department of Labour, along with the social partners, was invited to form part of the committee responsible for the formulation of the National Policy and Action Plan. The Committee welcomes the cooperation between the Government and workers’ and employers’ organizations to raise awareness of the principles of the Convention, and requests the Government to continue to provide information regarding such initiatives. The Committee also asks the Government to indicate the role of the workers’ and employers’ organizations in the implementation of the National Policy and Action Plan for Gender Equity and Equality.