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

Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No. 156) - Ethiopia (Ratification: 1991)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in response to its previous request. It would appreciate receiving further information or clarification on the following points:

Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes that the report contains no clarification as to the definition of the term "dependent child"; it thus repeats its previous request to the Government to clarify the term's relationship to the coverage of the Convention. The Committee also again requests the Government to provide information on whether, and if so how, the term "other members of their immediate family who clearly need care or support" is defined for the purpose of applying the Convention.

Article 2. The Committee notes that, with regard to the types of employment relationships excluded from Labour Proclamation No. 42/1993, by its section 3(2), the Government replies that these categories of workers are governed by special laws such as the Civil Code. The Committee requests the Government to supply details on the provisions concerning workers with family responsibilities in the special laws referred to, and to provide relevant extracts of such laws if these have been adopted. Noting that, according to the Government, work is under way to issue directives covering homeworkers in accordance with section 46(4) of the Proclamation, the Committee looks forward to receiving copies of such directives, as soon as they are finalized.

Article 3. The Committee notes with interest the Government's indications, in the context of the application of this Article, concerning the current National Employment Policy, and the proposals made to the constitutional drafting committee and concerning the drafting of a national employment policy. The Government is requested to keep the Committee informed on the progress towards the adoption of national policies aimed at enabling women workers with family responsibilities to be employed without discrimination and to reconcile better their work and family obligations.

Article 4. Noting that the Government has not supplied any information on collective agreements containing provisions for equal opportunity and treatment in employment for all workers with family responsibilities, the Committee repeats its request to the Government to provide copies of such agreements, as well as information on any programmes in operation or envisaged to further the implementation of this Article (see Paragraphs 17 to 23 of the Workers with Family Responsibilities Recommendation, 1981 (No. 165)).

Article 5. The Committee repeats its request to the Government to provide information on the measures taken to consider the needs of men and women workers with family responsibilities in community planning. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the results and impact of the national survey, conducted by the Children, Youth and Family Welfare Organization, to collect information on the situation of dependent children with insufficient family support, which is referred to in the Government's earlier report.

Article 6. Noting that the Government has not replied to its previous request, the Committee again asks the Government to indicate the information and educational campaigns or measures taken in order to promote a broader public understanding of the principle contained in the Convention.

Article 8. The Committee notes that the Government replies to the Committee's request for information on the practical application of section 26(2)(d) of the Labour Proclamation by repeating that sex, marital status, family responsibility and pregnancy, inter alia, are not legitimate grounds for termination of employment. It would appreciate receiving, in future reports, examples showing how this provision is applied in practice, in particular copies of cases heard by labour courts involving dismissal on unlawful grounds or action taken by the labour inspection service regarding this issue.

Article 11. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government to the effect that the Advisory Board, whose functions would include devising and applying measures to give effect to the provisions of the Convention, is still awaiting the formation of an employers' association which will take part in the Board. The Committee accordingly asks the Government to keep it informed of action taken to constitute the tripartite Board and of its activities in giving effect to this Article.