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Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (RATIFICATION: 1971)

The Committee notes the information supplied in the Government's report and the conclusions of the Committee set up to examine the representation made by the International Organization of Employers (IOE) and the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers and Associations of Commerce and Production (FEDECAMARAS), under article 24 of the ILO Constitution, which were approved by the Governing Body in May 1993 (document GB. 256/15/16) and which determine that certain provisions of the new Organic Labour Act of 1990 fall within the scope of Article 5, paragraph 2, of the Convention.

1. Article 1, paragraph 1(a), of the Convention. The Committee notes that section 26 of the Organic Labour Act prohibits all discrimination in working conditions on the basis of age, sex, race, religion, political affiliation or civil or social status, without mentioning colour or national extraction. The Committee refers to paragraph 58 of its 1988 General Survey on Equality in Employment and Occupation, in which it states "where provisions are adopted in order to give effect to the principle contained in the Convention, they should include all the grounds of discrimination laid down in Article 1, paragraph 1(a)"; the Committee requests the Government to indicate how discrimination in employment on the basis of colour or national extraction is prohibited. The Committee also notes that by virtue of section 7 of the Organic Labour Act, the Act is not applicable to members of the armed forces; the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the instruments through which the principle contained in the Convention is applied to the above persons.

2. Article 2. In its report, the Government only refers to the legislation which is in force and the national education systems and plans. The Committee would be grateful to be provided with information on national vocational training policies and plans which are intended specifically for workers, to provide them with training to enable them to have access to jobs without discrimination.

3. Article 3(a). The Committee notes the Government's general statement on tripartite consultation and would be grateful if the Government would supply more detailed information on the measures which have been adopted to seek the cooperation of employers' and workers' organizations in promoting the acceptance and observance of policies of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation.

4. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the Women's National Council, which was established by virtue of Decree No. 2722 of 22 December 1992, and particularly on its activities to promote the national policy of equality for women and the elimination of discrimination in employment on grounds of sex. It also requests recent information on the activities of the Ministry for the Promotion of Women, referred to in the 1991 report.

5. The Committee notes the description contained in the report of the organization and operation of the labour inspection services to monitor the application of the principle contained in the Convention and would be grateful if the Government would supply statistics on the number of inspection visits undertaken in relation to the Convention and their results (the violations detected, the action taken, penalties imposed and cases brought before the courts, etc.).