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

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Guyana (Ratification: 1975)

The Committee notes with interest that the Equal Rights Act 1990 (Act No. 19 of 1990), which provides for the enforcement of the equality principle enshrined in Article 2 of the Convention, makes illegal all forms of discrimination against women or men on the basis of their sex or marital status and amends a wide range of legislation so as to accord women equal rights with men.

In this regard, the Committee recalls that in its previous comments, it had referred to section 22 of the Public Officers (Insurance) Act, 1902 (Cap. 27:01), which excluded female public officers from the Act (which made provision for the widows and orphans of public officers by requiring such officers to insure their own lives). The Committee notes with interest that the Equal Rights Act inserts in section 22 a clause providing that no male officer who is not already insured under the Act will be required to be so insured from the date of commencement of the Equal Rights Act; and that it amends the Public Officers Widows Act, 1920 (Cap. 27:02) by introducing into the legislation, gender-neutral terminology so as to entitle both male and female spouses of deceased public officers or pensioners to receive the financial benefits laid down in the Act.

The Committee is addressing a request directly to the Government on other points.