Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

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

The Committee notes that the Government's report contains no reply to its comments. It hopes that the next report will include full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the Government's statement that, notwithstanding the fact that approximately half of the workers in 1993 were women, the number of women in supervisory positions and senior posts in enterprises and administrative bodies was proportionately low, due to a tendency among heads of undertakings, institutions and organizations to promote men instead of women. In addition, the Government indicates that in the prevailing economic crisis, employers seek first to terminate the employment of women (two-thirds of the total unemployed being women) and that "administrative measures taken to remedy the situation have little effect". The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures it envisages to promote the national policy on equality between men and women (Article 2 of the Convention) regarding access to employment and to particular occupations of their choice, and the activities under way to sensitize the population at large and employers in particular with regard to this policy (Article 3(a) and (b)). In this connection, the Committee would refer the Government to paragraphs 164 and 168 of its 1988 General Survey on Equality in Employment and Occupation where it describes the success of affirmative action programmes in overcoming inequality in employment.

2. The Committee notes that the report contains no information on the policies and programmes pursued to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation irrespective of race, religion or national extraction. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on such policies and on the results achieved.

3. The Committee notes the Government's statement that it is in the process of adapting its labour statistics system to international standards, but that sufficient statistical information related to equality of opportunity and treatment in employment or occupation is not yet available. The Committee requests the Government to supply such statistics, if possible, in its next report.