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

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Cabo Verde (Ratification: 1979)

With reference to its previous direct requests, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report and the attached documents.

1. The Committee notes that no measures have been taken to incorporate in the national legislation a provision referring explicitly to race, colour, national extraction and political opinion among the grounds on which discrimination is prohibited, but that the Government states that it is planned, in a future review of the Constitution, to include all the grounds of discrimination set out in Article 1, paragraph 1(a), of the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report the measures taken to bring its national legislation into conformity with the Convention, either in the context of a review of the Constitution, or by means of legislation or administrative regulations.

2. With regard to access to training and the regulations applying to students holding fellowships abroad which require such students to join and participate in the activities of the Organization of Cape Verde Students (sections 5(c), 7 and 8 of Legislative Decree No. 83/81 of 18 July 1981), the Committee notes that the Government: repeats that, in practice, the only criterion applied in attributing fellowships abroad is the final average mark obtained by the student; states that age is an additional criterion; and recognizes the need to amend the above-mentioned Legislative Decree in due course to bring it fully into conformity with the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report the measures that have been taken to this end and to provide a copy of the amended Legislative Decree as soon as possible.

3. With regard to the positive measures taken in respect of women, the Committee thanks the Government for providing statistical data disaggregated by sex on the courses organized by the Centre for Administrative Training and Further Training (CENFA) and two prospectuses from the Institute for Occupational Training and Further Training (IFAP) announcing certain courses which are open to all applicants who meet the requisite conditions, without discrimination, in particular on the ground of sex.

The Committee notes that very few women have completed certain courses (e.g. law, human resource management) but that there is equal participation in the so-called "permanent" courses, and asks the Government to indicate whether any enquiries have been conducted to identify the causes of these disparities, and to provide information on the measures taken or contemplated to ensure application of Article 3(e) of the Convention.

With regard to access for women to vocational training courses, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide statistical data reflecting the implementation of the national policy to promote equal opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation with a view to eliminating all discrimination in this respect.