Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Jordan (Ratification: 1963)

The Committee notes the Government's latest report received in 1993.

1. With reference to its previous comments concerning the plan to adopt a new Labour Code containing the principles laid down in the Convention, the Committee notes that the examination of the draft new Code has been completed by the Legislative Council and the Code has been submitted to the National Council. The Committee hopes that the Code will be adopted very shortly and that the Government will not fail to provide a copy of the text.

2. With regard to the implementation of development plans to increase the participation of women in social, economic and political life, the Committee notes that the number of women participating in vocational training programmes has risen steadily since 1976 and that by 1991, women accounted for 19 per cent of all such trainees. The Committee considers that this rate is very low; it noted previously that the training provided is mostly for activities which are traditionally carried out by women and that between 1986 and 1989 there was a marked increase in the industrial tailoring, pottery and copperwork sectors, and in the maintenance of office equipment. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on any new developments regarding the promotion of education and vocational training for women.

3. The Committee has learned that on 29 June 1993 a conference was held in Amman on the formulation and adoption of a national strategy for women, which was attended by some 600 people representing a wide variety of institutions, organizations and associations from various sectors of the country. The Committee notes that the National Commission for Women, recently created, played an important role at the conference and, in particular, in drawing up the national strategy. Since it appears that the necessary structures to implement a national policy on women do not yet exist, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on the activities of the National Commission for Women and on the follow-up to this conference, indicating how, and with what means, it plans to develop the proposed national strategy for women.

Furthermore, the Committee asks the Government to provide information, including statistics, on women's access to employment and the various occupations.

4. Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. The Committee has not received the information it requested under point 3 of its previous comment. It therefore once again asks the Government to provide information in its next report on any measures taken to ensure effective promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment, regardless of race, colour, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin, and on the results obtained, particularly as regards:

(a) access to vocational training;

(b) access to employment and particular occupations;

(c) terms and conditions of employment, and more specifically the measures taken to promote equality of opportunity and treatment:

(i) in employment, vocational training and occupational guidance under the direction of the Government;

(ii) by legislation and educational programmes;

(iii) with the cooperation of employers' and workers' organizations and other appropriate bodies, particularly as regards employment in the private sector and matters not covered by collective agreements.