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

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Lithuania (Ratification: 1994)

1. Article 1(1) of the Convention. Sexual harassment. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that only a very low number of complaints concerning sexual harassment are currently being received by the competent bodies but that a number of initiatives are being carried out to raise awareness of the issue. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to prevent and eliminate sexual harassment at work, including on the extent to which complaints of sexual harassment are being brought.

2. Article 1(2). Inherent requirement of the job. The Committee requested the Government to indicate any legal provisions establishing requirements regarding language and political activities as mentioned in section 2(3) of the Act on Equal Treatment. It also requested the Government to provide information on the practical application of point 7 of section 2(3) of the Act, indicating any cases in which this exceptions clause has been applied. The Committee requests the Government to provide this information in its next report.

3. Article 2. Equality of opportunity and treatment irrespective of race, colour and national extraction. The Committee regrets that the Government’s report contains no information in reply to the Committee’s previous comments on this matter. It notes the concerns expressed by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination regarding the very high unemployment rate among members of the Roma community (Concluding Observations of 7 March 2006, CERD/C/LTU/CO/3, paragraph 20). The Committee urges the Government to provide full information on the measures taken to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation of all ethnic groups, particularly the Roma, including measures taken or envisaged to overcome gaps concerning training and education and to promote tolerance and respect between all groups of society. The Committee further requests the Government to provide full information on the employment-related measures implemented under the national action plans concerning minorities, including indications whether any positive action is being taken with a view to promoting equality, as well as detailed statistical information on the employment situation of the various ethnic groups.

4. Equality of opportunity and treatment of men and women. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, the implementation of the 2003-2004 State Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men has led to positive results. According to a 2006 European Union report, Lithuania has the highest number of female managers in Europe, with 42 per cent of managers at all levels being women. In 2006, a survey of the position of women in small and medium-sized enterprises is being carried out. Educational attainment of women remains higher than that of men, but their unemployment rate is slightly higher. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed information concerning the measures taken to promote gender equality at work and in the labour market, including regarding the implementation and impact of the measures provided for under the Second Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women, 2005-09. Please provide the results of the abovementioned survey as well as statistical information, disaggregated by sex, indicating the position of men and women in the labour market.