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

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

1. Further to its previous comments concerning the employment of women, the Committee notes that, according to the report, women predominate in jobs in the catering industry, retail trade, garment industry, and in the social and health sectors, and that they are employed at all levels. The Committee also notes the figures provided concerning the numbers of women and men registered as unemployed and the numbers placed in employment during 1994. On the question of women's educational and job opportunities, the Committee has noted from the Government's last report on the implementation of the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) that women still tend to be assigned to lower- and middle-level jobs and that only a small percentage acquire upper-level responsibilities and status (UN document, CEDAW/C/5/Add.63, 1990). In paragraph 161 of that report, the Government states its concern to take measures to mobilize the productive capacity of women and asserts, in this connection, the importance of having a cultural, social and political environment that is conducive to the development of a high level of instrumental competence among women. The Committee hopes that, in its next report, the Government will provide more detailed information on the actual measures being taken to develop comprehensive and coordinated strategies that aim at creating an environment conducive to improving women's economic status.

2. Having noted that, as a matter of policy, women are encouraged to undertake technical and vocational training, the Committee requests the Government to provide material to illustrate the concrete changes being brought about as a result of this policy.

3. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee notes that under the Amerindian Scholarship Programme, 315 students attended secondary schools in 1994. It also notes the figures provided concerning the number of students receiving tertiary education under the programme. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply, in its next report, any documents that evaluate the current employment situation of the Amerindians. Please also supply copies of the Amerindian Act, Chapter 29:01, as amended, and any other relevant legislation in force pertaining specifically to the Amerindian peoples.

4. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any measures proposed or initiated by the National Tripartite Committee, or by its Social Sub-Committee, relevant to the application of the Convention. It also requests the Government to provide details on the measures taken by the Women's Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for women, such as the educational programmes to sensitize women to their rights, referred to in the report. In this regard, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide copies of any relevant studies, including one entitled "Women in Guyana", undertaken by the EEC and others, published in 1991.