Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

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

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report in reply to its previous request.

1. The Committee notes with satisfaction the adoption, on 30 May 1991, of the Act of the Republic of Belarus on Employment which defines the fundamental principles of the State's employment policy and, in section 4, guarantees to all able-bodied citizens equal opportunities in the exercise of their right to work and free choice of employment irrespective of race, sex, religious attitude, age, political conviction, nationality and social position in accordance with the grounds set out in Article 1, paragraph 1(a), of the Convention.

2. The Committee notes that a new Labour Code was adopted on 15 December 1992 and communicated to the Office the last week of February 1993. The Committee will be able to examine it in detail only when a translation of the full text is available. However, it can already note that, in section 6 of the Code, discrimination is prohibited in hiring and in labour relations on the grounds of nationality, sex, race, language, religious or political convictions, membership or non-membership of trade unions or other social organizations as well as on grounds of physical and mental disabilities that do not preclude fulfilment of the required duties of the job. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information on any measures taken or contemplated to extend the grounds prohibiting discrimination to include social origin, as well as to extend the prohibition of discrimination to access to training and to particular occupations, terms and conditions of employment and security of employment in accordance with the terms of the Convention.