Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Bangladesh (Ratification: 1972)

1. Article 2 of the Convention. Equality of opportunity and treatment of men and women. The Committee notes the measures taken by the Government to enhance women’s access to vocational training through technical training centres. It requests the Government to provide information on the type of courses provided by these centres, statistical data on the numbers of women benefiting from training in the different fields of training and the employment rates and sectors of employment of trainees following the completion of courses.

2. Despite earlier requests, no information has been provided on measures taken to make educational curricula, reported to often reflect the traditional roles of men and women, more gender-sensitive. The Committee reiterates its request for this information in order to meaningfully assess the progress made by the Government in implementing the Convention.

3. The Committee understands that in Bangladesh women are often the first to be dismissed in employment and that transport practices in the country mean that women often cannot access work opportunities. It therefore requests the Government to supply information on any measures taken to ensure, in practice, gender equality in respect to access to and terms of conditions of employment. In this context, the Committee reiterates its request for statistical data on men’s and women’s participation in the private sector.

4. The Committee notes that quotas are reserved for women’s positions in public services but women’s participation remains very low. It requests the Government to provide information on any additional measures taken, including provision of training, to ensure that women can actively participate at each level of the public sector and higher levels of decision-making. The Committee also requests the Government to provide statistical data with regards women’s participation in local government, the armed forces, the police and judiciary as mentioned in the Government’s report.

5. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government that women’ s participation in the informal economy has increased because of the success of microcredit programmes providing self-employment. The Committee would welcome statistical data on the number of self-employed women that have received microcredit assistance in this manner, the nature of activities conducted and information on the measures taken to extend social protection of these workers. It would further welcome information on other positive measures taken by the Government to enhance women’s training, skill development and access to jobs in the formal economy.

6. Equality of opportunity on the basis of race, national extraction, colour, religion and social origin. While noting from the Government’s report that national law and policy are framed in order to promote equal opportunity and treatment for men and women irrespective of race, religion, caste, etc., the Committee reiterates its request for information on concrete and practical measures taken by the Government to promote the application of the Convention with regards to all grounds listed in Article 1(1)(a).

7. Article 3(b). Educational programmes. Noting that the Government has not provided any information in this regard, the Committee reiterates its request for information on any measures taken or envisaged by the Government to establish educational and awareness-raising programmes to secure the acceptance and observance of the principle set forth in the Convention.

8. Part III of the report form. Recalling its previous comments with regard to the functioning of the labour inspection services, the Committee reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on whether any measures have been taken to improve the capacity of labour inspectors to supervise the application of the Convention, the number of inspections conducted, violations identified and the actions taken.