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Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Tunisia (RATIFICATION: 1959)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report. It requests the Government to provide further information in its next report on the following points.

1. The Committee notes the establishment in 1997 of the "Commission on Equality of Opportunity" within the Ministry of Women and Family Affairs. It also notes that the Commission produced a study on women’s participation in employment with recommendations for action in order to enhance and promote women’s participation in the labour market. The Committee asks the Government to supply a copy of the study and information on the follow-up undertaken by the Government to such recommendations. Please also supply information on the mandate, powers and activities of this new Commission.

2. The Committee notes that the promotion of women’s participation in employment and training has been mainstreamed in the Tenth Economic and Social Development Plan (1997-2001) prepared in cooperation with the newly established Commission for Women and Development. The five-year Plan aims at the promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation for women, following the implementation of a strategy for the promotion of women based essentially on the strengthening of the role of women in productive activities. The Committee asks the Government to supply information on the outcomes of this Plan and to indicate whether this strategy has been extended in the next five-year Plan.

3. The Committee notes the measures taken to enhance women’s participation in employment, in particular that 55 per cent of the beneficiaries of the Fund FIAP (that provides training and opportunities for re-orientation) and the programme SIVP2 (that promotes employment for young persons) are women. It also notes the micro-credit opportunities within the Tunisia Bank of Solidarity and the National Agricultural Bank and the Tunisian Agency for Employment. However, it also notes the slight increase in women’s employment rate, that remains still low at 19.2 per cent. The Committee asks the Government to continue to supply information and statistical data on women’s participation in the labour market.

4. The Committee notes the national literacy programme, its aims to reduce women’s illiteracy rate to 22 per cent in 2006 and its priority target groups - young women and women in rural areas. It also notes the vocational guidance services aimed at strengthening women’s participation in scientific and technical sectors of activity and the activities of training organized by the Centre of Research, Documentation and Information on Women (CREDIF). However, the Committee also notes the Concluding Observations of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) that express concern over the illiteracy still affecting 42 per cent of women (23 per cent of men), that serious disparities continue to exist between the literacy rates of boys and girls at all age levels and between urban and rural areas. The CESCR also states that inequalities between men and women continue to persist, including with regard to access to positions of responsibility and to remuneration (E/C.12/1/Add.36, paragraphs 13 and 17). The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the measures undertaken and the progress achieved to improve the literacy rate of girls and women to assist their entry into higher remunerated work.

5. The Committee once again asks the Government to indicate which measures have been taken for the active promotion of the principle set forth in the Convention within the framework of its national policy to combat discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, political opinion, national extraction and social origin.

6. The Committee notes that section 170 of the Labour Code establishes that the Labour Inspectorate is responsible for monitoring the practical application of labour legislation. Under section 178 of the Labour Code, police authorities and the National Guard are also responsible for enforcement of the labour law. They perform their role through visits in the workplaces. The Committee asks the Government to supply data on the number of inspections conducted, the violations of discrimination identified, the actions taken and the outcomes. Please also supply any relevant court decisions.