Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Malawi (Ratification: 1965)

The Committee notes the information supplied in the report of the Government in reply to its previous direct request.

1. With respect to its previous comments concerning the activities of the National Commission for Women, the Committee notes with interest the participation of representatives from both the public and private sectors in the Employment Subcommittee and the recommendations of this Subcommittee concerning the promotion of women in employment in the public sector and in self-employment. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results of these initiatives in terms of increasing women's participation rates in the public sector and in self-management.

The Committee also notes the studies which have been recommended by the Employment Subcommittee concerning appropriate technology for food processing and rural housing, efficient use of energy such as from wood, kiosks for women vendors and development of a cooperative spirit among women such as in the raising of pigs in rural areas. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate whether these studies have been undertaken and provide copies upon their completion.

The Committee would also ask the Government to continue to provide information on the activities and proposals of the National Commission of Women or its subcommittees in the field of women's employment and to report on progress achieved in this respect.

2. The Committee notes with interest that a provision for paid maternity leave of 90 days has been incorporated in the terms and conditions of the public service and that the principle, with some modification, has been incorporated in the employment practices of various employers in the private sector. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would attach copies of the relevant public service regulations and personnel policies containing these provisions with its next report.

3. With regard to its previous comment concerning the apprenticeship scheme, the Committee notes from the Government's report that more men than women are trained and gain entry to jobs through this programme because traditionally such occupations are preferred by males. In this connection, the Committee would draw the Government's attention to paragraphs 82 and 83 of its 1988 General Survey on Equality in Employment and Occupation wherein it noted that discriminatory practices in respect of access to training rarely originate in provisions or regulations that are expressly of a discriminatory nature; more commonly they arise out of practices that are based on stereotypes affecting mainly women. In view of the importance of apprenticeship the Committee stressed in its survey that special attention ought to be given to measures for encouraging the recruitment of apprentices regardless of sex and for apprentices of one sex to be trained in occupations traditionally performed by persons of the other sex. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on any measures contemplated or taken to promote the training and recruitment of women, as well as men, in occupational areas traditionally dominated by men, including measures taken in placement services.

4. With regard to its previous comments concerning the adoption of a policy to eliminate discrimination and promote equality, the Committee notes from the report that through the application of the Government's policy, which gives no reference to any discrimination criteria other than qualifications as regards manpower development and utilisation, the number of women in vocational training institutions and paid self-employment is increasing and the terms and conditions of work are improving for women. It also notes from the Government's report that statistics on placement services and training programmes are not disaggregated according to sex. It would draw the Government's attention to the importance of collecting such statistical data in order to monitor and evaluate the implementation of policies or measures to eliminate discrimination and promote equality in accordance with the Convention. The Committee recalls its previous comments and once again underlines the need for continuous action in order to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation (see paragraph 240 of the 1988 General Survey on Equality in Employment and Occupation). It asks the Government to continue to provide information on the Government's policy and hopes it will be able to cite instances of progress, through the disaggregation of statistical information on the basis of sex in employment and training.