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

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

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It also notes the communication from the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) dated 23 September 2003 relating to matters previously raised by the Committee, which was sent to the Government for its comments.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. Discrimination on the basis of sex - sexual harassment. Noting that the Government has not yet supplied information in reply to the Committee’s 2002 general observation on the issue of sexual harassment, the Committee asks the Government to provide the information requested in its next report.

2. Article 2. Obligation to declare and pursue a national policy to promote equality of opportunity and treatment. The Committee requests the Government once again to indicate how a national policy to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation has been drawn up, as well as the general methods (legal procedures, practical forms of action, etc.) through which this policy is implemented in respect of the grounds of discrimination forbidden by the Convention (race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction and social origin) as regards: (a) access to vocational training; (b) access to employment and different occupations; and (c) employment conditions. The Government is also requested to provide:

-  information on any progress made in regard to the review of legislation concerning gender equality referred to by the Government previously;

-  statistical information regarding the participation of men and women in private and public employment, as well as the various fields of technical and vocational training;

-  further information on the implementation of Act No. 2000-008 which introduced a quota system to ensure women’s access to the civil service.

3. Article 3. Cooperation with workers’ and employers’ organizations. The Committee has, on various occasions, pointed to the importance of the Government’s cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations to advance the acceptance and observance of the national policy to promote equality of opportunity in employment and occupation. The Government is therefore requested to make every possible effort to obtain the collaboration of these organizations and to indicate to the Committee any tripartite effort made to promote the application of the Convention.

4. Educational programmes and other promotional activities. The Committee recalls its previous comments on the need to promote and carry out educational programmes to raise awareness on non-discrimination and equality. This is particularly important in the light of the Government’s previous statement that obstacles in the Convention’s application had been identified in relation to the socio-cultural context of the country and the general lack of knowledge of the Convention’s principle. Please provide information on any measures taken to promote and carry out educational programmes on equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation.

5. Article 5. Special measures. The Committee recalls its previous comments concerning section 101 of the Labour Code and Decree No. 67-26 of 7 September 1967 which provide for certain exclusions of women from employment for safety and health reasons. The Government is requested to indicate whether any efforts have been undertaken to re-examine these restrictions, in consultation with social partners and women workers, to assess whether they are still necessary, in the light of the principle of equality and technical developments.