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

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Bulgaria (Ratification: 1960)

1. Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention. Equality of opportunity and treatment of men and women. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that its efforts to promote gender equality include: (1) measures against labour market stereotypes; (2) measures addressing the factors leading to low employability and economic activity of women; (3) measures to overcome the negative approach of some employers in respect of recruitment of women for certain jobs; and
(4) measures to promote reconciliation between work and family life. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the specific action taken in these four areas, including information on the actual progress made in eliminating gender inequalities and discrimination in the labour market. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to provide full statistical information on the participation of men and women in private and public employment, as well as the distribution of men and women in the different areas of economic activities and levels of responsibility. Finally, the Committee would appreciate receiving an update on the status of the draft Law on Equal Opportunities and the activities of the National Council on Equal Opportunities of Women and Men.

2. With respect of the following points concerning the practical application of the Act on the Protection against Discrimination, the Government indicates in its report that it would provide the necessary information at a later stage:

(a)   information on the implementation and enforcement of the Act’s provisions dealing with sexual harassment;

(b)   information on any list of activities where sex is a genuine and determining professional requirement established by ordinance in accordance with
section 7(2); and

(c)   statistical information, disaggregated by sex, regarding the application of the special measures contained in section 24(1) and (2).

The Committee hopes that this information will be included in the Government’s next report.