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

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

1. The Committee notes from the Government's report that pursuant to Article 30, paragraph 1, subparagraph 1, of the Treaty of Reunification, which calls for new and uniform regulation of working time, including Sunday and holiday work and special protection of women, a draft law is under preparation which will cover employment of women in particular areas and will abolish prohibitions or limitations on work by women when these are not necessary for the avoidance of sex-specific risks. The Committee hopes the new legislation will be in conformity with the requirements of the Convention concerning equality of opportunity and treatment with respect to access to employment and to particular occupations and in terms and conditions of employment, and that any special measures of protection will be only adopted after consultation with representative employers' and workers' groups in accordance with Article 5 of the Convention.

2. The Committee notes the provision of vocational guidance and counselling services and vocational training programmes to girls and women with a view to broadening their occupational choices and enhancing their employment prospects. According to the Government's report, some progress in diversifying the occupations in which women are employed has been achieved, albeit at a very slow pace. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information, including statistics, on the various measures taken to promote equal opportunity in employment through vocational guidance and training and in particular on the various measures taken to assist young women in the new Länder in obtaining training placement.

3. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the practical application of the guidelines concerning the advancement of women in the federal administration and to forward a copy of the second report covering the period 1989-91 to which the Government refers in its report.

4. The Committee notes with interest the measures taken to encourage women in the sciences and the corresponding emphasis on increasing the proportion of women in higher education, post-doctoral work and professorships. It requests the Government to supply copies of the report on the "Encouragement of Women in the Area of Science" scheduled to be completed at the end of 1993, the report on present developments and regulations in this area and the evaluation report on the measures taken for the encouragement of women within the second special university programme.

5. The Committee notes the information on the voluntary initiative taken by private enterprises to promote women's access to employment and the role undertaken by the Federal Ministry for Women and Young Persons to encourage acceptance in the private sector of promotional measures for women workers. Noting the 3.6 per cent increase from 1982 to 1989 in women holding managerial positions in the private sector, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide statistical information on the percentage of women holding such positions and on the measures taken to increase this percentage particularly by the Government in seeking the cooperation of employers' and workers' organizations and other appropriate bodies in promoting equal employment opportunity and treatment between women and men in the access to positions at all levels of decision-making in the private sector.