Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1996, published 85th ILC session (1997)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Burkina Faso (Ratification: 1962)

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report in reply to its previous comments.

1. The Committee notes from the report that its previous observations concerning the inclusion in the Labour Code during revision of colour and national extraction - grounds for discrimination prohibited by the Constitution and the Convention but not by the current Labour Code - will be taken into account during the rereading of the Labour Code which was scheduled for September 1995. The Committee notes that any modification on this matter will be brought to the attention of the Committee in future reports and hopes to receive a copy of any amendments to the Code as soon as they are adopted.

2. The Committee notes from the report that the small percentage of women occupied in the public and private sectors is essentially due to the low rate of school attendance and low level of education of women as compared with men. The Government indicates, however, that, despite the absence of statistics to illustrate it, participation of women in employment has increased and that they even have increasing access to occupations formerly considered to be the prerogative of men. It considers that the situation of women's employment will continue to improve as a result of the information and awareness activities aimed at encouraging women to embrace all occupations and to the efforts made by the Government to increase the levels of school attendance and education for girls. The Committee requests the Government to supply full information on the results of these efforts, accompanied by statistics reflecting the evolution of the situation in regard to participation of girls in education and training - particularly, vocational and university training - and the participation of women in public and private employment, especially in the posts traditionally reserved for men and in supervisory and managerial posts.

3. The Committee notes that an outline document on employment and vocational training policy is being finalized by the Government and will be communicated to the ILO with future reports. It notes that this document will take into account all aspects of the question of implementing the national policy aimed at promoting equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation which is enshrined in the Constitution and the Labour Code. The Committee hopes that this document will set forth the general methods (legal procedures, practical forms of action, etc.) by which this policy will be implemented in practical terms in the spheres of access to vocational training, employment and particular occupations, and conditions of employment. It requests the Government to send it, as indicated in the report, extracts from the above-mentioned document relating to measures designed to implement the Convention.