Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Qatar (Ratification: 1976)

1. The Committee notes the report of the Government and the attached documentation. The Committee also notes the new communication from the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions (ICATU), which has been sent to the Government on 9 April 2001 for comment. ICATU alleges the existence of flagrant inequalities between men and women and on the basis of sex, race, religion and nationality. In the absence of a reply by the Government, the Committee recalls its previous requests to the Government related to the necessity of declaring a national policy designed to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation, with a view to the elimination of any discrimination. While the absence of discriminatory laws and administrative measures may be considered as elements of a national policy, it is not sufficient in itself to constitute such a policy as prescribed under Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. A national equality policy necessarily includes the adoption and implementation of proactive measures and policies aimed at promotion of equality in employment and occupation in respect of all the grounds listed in the Convention. Noting that the Government is referring to a new Labour Code, the Committee hopes that the Code will fully reflect the principles and objectives of the Convention, and requests the Government to provide a copy as soon as possible.

2. Discrimination on the grounds of sex. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest that Act No. 1 of 2001, on the promulgation of the Public Service Act, repeals section 82 of that Act, which authorized the authorities to terminate the employment contracts of nurses as from the fifth month of their pregnancy. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of this change in law on the employment of female nurses.

3. The Committee welcomes the information provided by the Government on the status of women in education and training, as well as their participation in the labour market. The information continues to show the participation of women in vocational training programmes, and in some instances the Committee notes that their participation is increasing. For example, the percentage of women students at the Institute for Administrative Development has increased between 1997 and 2001, from 26 per cent to 42 per cent. The Committee notes the distribution of men and women in the various training programmes reveals that some specializations are only or mainly pursued by women (applied chemistry and biology, computer information technology, geographic information systems, administrative information systems, nursing, office and secretarial work), while in other fields only men are represented (electro-mechanics, communications, technology of construction, land surveying and management, health monitoring and petroleum). The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the distribution of men and women in the programmes provided by the various training and education institutions at all levels, including the technical college recently established. Noting the concentration of women in specific fields, the Committee requests the Government to take measures to promote equal access of men and women to all areas of training and education, according to their own choice, including through promotional activities and adequate vocational guidance, and to keep the Committee informed in this respect. The Committee also hopes the Government will adopt policies and measures to address the existing occupational segregation and the lack of women in management training programmes.

4. With reference to the participation of men and women in the labour market, according to sectors and occupational groups, the Committee notes the examples given by the Government for increasing public employment of women outside the fields of education and health in response to the Committee’s previous comments. In this respect, it notes that the participation of women in various ministries has increased from 1999 to 2000, including municipal affairs (0.9 per cent), justice (6.5 per cent) and foreign affairs (0.2 per cent). While noting these slight improvements in employment levels of women in ministries, the Committee notes that the overall level of female participation in government employment remains generally low, with the highest participation in education and health. The Committee also notes that as of 31 December 1999, out of 14,919 persons employed in the public service (Qataris and non-Qataris), 3,589 were women (836 Qataris and 2,753 non-Qataris). Noting that in this sector only three Qatari women fall into the occupational group of legislators, senior officials and managers (out of the 255 persons falling in that category), the Committee observes that women are de facto excluded from this category. In the group of specialists, out of the 1,167 female specialists (compared to 1,804 men), 260 were Qatari women. It hopes the Government will be able to report on measures taken to promote the equal participation of women in ministries and in the public service.

5. With respect to the mixed sector and the private sector (banking and insurance), the Committee notes the similar absence of women in the occupational group of senior officials and managers and a disproportionate representation of women among clerks. The Committee notes that the Government considers the implementation of the five-year plan (2001-05) for the training and qualification of secondary school and university graduates to result in raising the percentage of women’s participation in the overall labour force. Noting that among the jobseekers registered with the Labour Department of the Ministry of Civil Service Affairs and Housing in 2000, women with university and secondary education significantly outnumbered men at the same educational level, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on targeted measures taken to promote employment of female job-seekers with secondary and tertiary education. The Government is requested to continue to provide statistical information on men and women’s participation in the labour market and on measures taken or envisaged to effectively promote equality of treatment and opportunity with respect to employment and occupation in all sectors including women’s access to jobs at the management and decision-making levels.

6. Discrimination on the basis of race, colour, national extraction and religion. In the light of the comments made by ICATU, the Committee once again brings to the Government’s attention the importance of addressing all grounds of discrimination contained in the Convention. Noting that again no information in this respect was provided, the Committee, reiterating its previous request, urges the Government to indicate how protection against discrimination in employment and occupation on the basis of race, colour, national extraction and religion is ensured in law and in practice.

The Committee is raising related and other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.