Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Switzerland (Ratification: 1961)

1. The Committee notes the detailed information and the documentation supplied by the Government in reply to its previous comments. It notes with satisfaction that, by the Ordinance of 24 February 1988, a Federal Office for Equality between Men and Women has been set up which will have the task of promoting the application of the principle of equality of the sexes in all walks of life, including employment and occupation, and of eliminating all forms of direct or indirect discrimination. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the work of this Office for the elimination of the inequalities that still exist between women and men, particularly as regards access to vocational training, access to employment and to particular occupations and terms and conditions of employment, including wages.

2. The Committee has also examined the documentation concerning the work of the Office for the Status of Women, which is operating in the Canton of Jura and, in particular, notes with interest the information campaign undertaken by this Office and the efforts made to facilitate the access of women to vocational training, particularly for occupations that are not considered to be traditional occupations for women, to confirm their right to work and to promote their access to posts of responsibility. The Committee also notes with interest the first measures taken by the Office for Equality of Rights for Men and Women and by the Advisory Committee on Equality, set up in the Canton of Geneva, and it requests the Government to continue supplying information on the work of these bodies and the results achieved (including statistics). The Committee also hopes that similar offices will be set up in other cantons in the country.

3. As regards the amendments to the federal legislation proposed in the 1986 report on the legislative programme on Equality of Rights for Men and Women, the Government indicates in reply to the Committee's comments that this report has been brought to the attention of Parliament and that certain amendments have already been made (such as the amendment of the legislation respecting the public service) or are about to be made. The Committee notes these indications and requests the Government to keep it informed of any further developments in this connection and to supply copies of the texts that are adopted.