Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Malawi (Ratification: 1965)

Equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning its efforts to correct disparities in educational opportunities for girls and boys. The Committee notes in particular that the measures taken to enhance the education system included gender equality considerations. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on measures taken to address unequal access of women to training and education at all levels. In this regard, the Committee reiterates its request for information that would allow the Committee to appreciate the actual progress made, including statistical information on the participation of women in training and education. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the following matters to which is has not yet replied:

(a)   the measures taken or envisaged, especially with regard to the recruitment policy and further training policy, to achieve an overall increase in the participation of women in higher level posts in the public service. In this regard, please also provide updated statistical information, disaggregated by sex, showing the progress made to ensure equal access of women to public service employment at all levels;

(b)   the measures taken or envisaged to facilitate access to soft loans for rural women as a means of assisting them to run small businesses, thereby reducing unemployment and poverty. The Committee also requests information on the number of rural women who have benefited from credit facilities.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.