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

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Mauritania (Ratification: 1963)

1. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government concerning the follow-up given to the recommendations of the Committee established in 1991 to examine the representation alleging failure to apply the Convention, in particular the measures taken in practice to grant adequate compensation to black Mauritanian workers of Senegalese origin whose employment was adversely affected as a result of their being forcibly displaced in 1989 during the conflict with Senegal.

2. The Committee notes the indication that, after normalization of relations between Mauritania and Senegal, tens of thousands of Mauritanians have resumed their work without any risk to their safety or their belongings. As it requested in its previous observation, the Committee asks the Government to provide detailed information, including statistics, on the number of workers, especially public servants and state employees, who have resumed their work under the governmental occupational reintegration programme for workers who were victims of the events of 1989, referred to in previous reports.

3. The Committee also notes from the report that any worker who can justify any right in connection with his or her former employer has been able to resume the enjoyment of these rights without hindrance. The Committee requests the Government to confirm that these rights include retirement pensions and salary arrears in accordance with the decision in November 1993 of the Joint Mauritanian-Senegalese Committee. It requests the Government once again to provide with its next report detailed information, including statistics, so that progress made in implementation of this decision can be judged.

4. Noting from the report that administrative and legal means of redress are open to all persons who consider that they suffered prejudice in this field, the Committee requests the Government to communicate information on any administrative or legal appeals lodged and, if applicable, copies of any decisions relating to the application of the Convention.

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