Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Guyana (Ratification: 1975)

1. The Committee notes with interest the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Act, 2001, which provides for the establishment of several commissions for the promotion and enhancement of fundamental human rights and the rule of law, including the Human Rights Commission, the Women and Gender Equality Commission and the Indigenous Peoples’ Commission. The Committee notes that these Commissions have broad mandates to promote and protect fundamental human rights, through, inter alia, monitoring and reviewing existing and proposed legislation, educating the public, research, investigation of complaints, mediation and conciliation, and cooperation with governmental and non-governmental organizations. The Committee requests the Government to provide in its next report information on the establishment and functioning in practice of these Commissions, including information on any activities carried out to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation.

2. In addition, the Committee recalls that the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions’ (ICFTU) communication of 30 October 2003, was forwarded to the Government on 13 January 2004 and again on 1 June 2006. The communication raises a number of issues relating to gender equality in employment, including the low representation of women in traditionally male‑dominated areas of work, the weak labour force participation of Amerindian women, and the lack of effective procedures for dealing with complaints of discrimination. The Committee requests the Government to provide full information on the measures taken or envisaged to promote gender equality in employment and occupation, including any specific action taken to promote the access of Amerindian women to work and employment. It also requests the Government to indicate the number of complaints received by the Commissions mentioned above concerning discrimination based on sex and indigenous origin or identity.

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