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

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Cameroon (Ratification: 1988)

Further to its observation, the Committee requests the Government to provide in its next report information on the following points.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. Discrimination on the grounds of sex. Sexual harassment. Recalling its general observation of 2002 on sexual harassment, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on any legislative or other measures taken or envisaged to prevent and punish sexual harassment at work.

2. Equality between men and women with respect to access to employment and vocational training. The Committee had previously noted the concern expressed by both the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (E/C.12/1/Add.40) and the Committee on Human Rights (CCPR/C/79/Add.116) with respect to the unequal legal status of women regarding the right to own property, the laws on credit and bankruptcy and the right of husbands to seek a court order to prevent wives from engaging in certain occupations. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the Committee of Synergy, a body for tripartite consultation on labour issues and questions of social security, is envisaged to deal with the elimination of all legislative provisions or policies that are not in conformity with the national policy against discrimination. The Committee must again draw the Government’s attention to the need to identify and repeal the legal provisions in the Civil Code and the Commercial Code which are contrary to the Convention. It trusts that the Government will provide with its next report full information on the steps taken, including by the Committee of Synergy, to review the legislation concerned with a view to ensuring that it is giving full effect to the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation.

3. The Committee recalls the small number of women among public servants (25 per cent) and jobseekers in general (30 per cent). It understands that one of the objectives of the “African Platform for employment and the reduction of poverty” is to promote the organizational and professional skills of job searchers, especially women and young people. The Committee requests the Government to provide in its next report information on the results achieved in this regard. The Committee further reiterates its request to the Government to provide statistical information showing the distribution of men and women in the various posts and at the different levels of responsibility, as well as information on the measures taken to improve the participation rate of women in employment and vocational training in the public service.

4. Equal access to education. The Committee had previously expressed its concern that, while Act No. 98/004 on education policy provides for equal access to education without any distinction as to sex (section 7), it does not guarantee free primary education, which considerably reduces access to such education, particularly in the case of girls. Considering the low female literacy rate and high drop‑out rate of girls noted in its previous comments, the Committee emphasizes once more the importance of measures to promote the access of girls to primary and secondary education and programmes to reduce the female illiteracy rate, as a means to implement the principle of the Convention. The Committee therefore hopes that the Government’s next report will provide full details in this regard.

5. Discrimination on the basis of race, colour and national extraction. Further to its observation, the Committee takes note of the comments made by the General Confederation of Labour-Liberty (CGT-Liberty) on the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), alleging that certain enterprises apply wage differentials on the basis of ethnicity. Referring again to the insufficient protection against discrimination in national legislation, the Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the measures taken to eliminate the practice of wage discrimination on the basis of national extraction.

6. Discrimination of indigenous peoples. The Committee understands that in Yaoundé a national workshop was held under the patronage of the Ministry for Social Affairs from 15 to 17 June 2005 to discuss the situation of indigenous and tribal peoples, including the serious difficulties the Baka, Bagyèli and Mbororo face with respect to access to education and employment, the terms and conditions of employment and remuneration. The Committee understands further that the situation of the indigenous peoples has been addressed in the context of the Forum on National Solidarity (21-24 June 2005). The Committee asks the Government to provide with its next report information on measures taken to improve the living and working conditions of indigenous and tribal peoples, in particular with regard to equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation. The Committee would also appreciate receiving statistical information, disaggregated by sex, on the situation of the Baka, Bagyèli and Mbororo in the labour market, including participation in education and vocational training.

7. Recalling the creation of the new National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms by Act No. 2004-16, the Committee reiterates its request that the Government indicate in its next report activities undertaken or envisaged by this Commission to promote the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation, as set out in the Convention.