Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Qatar (Ratification: 1976)

The Committee notes the Government's report and the information it contains in reply to its comments.

1. The Committee recalls that in its previous direct request it pointed out that no laws or regulations ensured protection against discrimination on ground of political opinion, but that the Government was examining the possibility of adopting a provision expressly prohibiting discrimination on the basis of political opinion. Since the Government indicates that no new legislation has been promulgated and provides no information on the manner in which it ensures the application of the principle of non-discrimination in respect of political opinion, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply information, in its next report, on the measures taken or contemplated in this area.

2. With regard to access to employment in the judiciary without discrimination on grounds of sex or religion, the Committee regrets that the Government has not supplied the information requested. It recalls that, in its previous report, the Government indicated that three women nationals of Qatar were currently employed as legal advisers in the Ministry of Justice, but not as magistrates. In view of the fact that under the legislation in force, the requirements for access to the various posts in the judiciary relate largely to qualifications and experience, the Committee again asks the Government to indicate the measures taken or under consideration to promote the access of women to the judiciary.

The Committee draws the Government's attention to Article 2 of the Convention which provides that a national policy designed to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation must be declared and pursued, particularly with regard to jobs under its control. Consequently, it is for the Government to adopt measures that will encourage the application of the principles of the Convention, particularly by implementing affirmative action programmes. The Committee asks the Government to indicate any measures taken to ensure that such a policy is accepted and applied, in accordance with Article 3(b), particularly educational programmes to promote this policy.

3. Further to its comments concerning section 82 of the Act respecting the public service under which it is possible "to terminate the employment contract of pregnant nurses at the fifth month of pregnancy and even before the date of expiry of the contract if the interests of work so require", the Committee notes the Government's statement that this subject is dealt with in a Bill being examined by the Legislative Committee of the Ministry of Justice. It hopes that, in its next report, the Government will be able to indicate the legislative and practical measures adopted to eliminate the discrimination against nurses pursuant to section 82 of the above-mentioned Act.

4. The Committee notes the statistics on the distribution of men and women in the various jobs and occupations of the public sector and the private sector for 1991, 1992 and 1993. The Government stresses that there are no legislative or administrative restrictions on the promotion of women's employment and their access to high-level jobs. The Committee notes that although trends in the employment of women in Qatar are substantially the same as those for men, women are absent from many professions and sectors. The Committee also notes that examples of women with high-level posts in the teaching sector and certain social and health services are cited in the report and that there are more women than men in these sectors. Similarly, the percentage of women is rising in the technology faculty, created in 1990, and in medicine, where it even exceeds that of men.

5. The Committee recalls that certain schools and training institutions are reserved for male students owing to religious and social traditions which prohibit mixed education. Referring to its comments on affirmative action programmes, under point 2 above, the Committee asks the Government to indicate the measures planned to ensure that teaching and vocational training programmes do not direct women solely towards "women's" jobs, but also give them access to jobs which are performed traditionally by men.

The Committee also asks the Government to indicate the measures envisaged to encourage the access of women to occupations where they are as yet absent or poorly represented. It asks the Government to continue to keep it informed of the advancement of women in employment and particular occupations, and, in particular, to send with its future reports all available statistics on the distribution of male and female workers.