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

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Rwanda (Ratification: 1981)

1. Gender equality. In its previous comments under the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), the Committee noted that section 206 of the Civil Code of Rwanda establishes that the husband is the head of the household as a matter of principle. As a consequence, women workers are entitled to income tax reductions in respect of dependants only in so far as they prove that they are de facto heads of households. The Committee observed that providing for equal rights of women and men in civil and family matters creates an environment which should be conducive to more rapid progress towards equal opportunity and equal treatment for men and women in employment. In its report, the Government states that it has taken due note of this observation. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report whether any consideration is being given to amending section 206 of the Civil Code in order to provide for the equal status of men and women as heads of household.

2. Statistical information. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed statistical information on the participation of men and women in private and public sector employment (if possible according to occupations and level of responsibility), as well as their representation in the informal economy.

3. Measures to promote equal access of the Batwa to education, training and employment. In reply to the Committee’s request for information on any measures taken to promote equality of opportunity and treatment of the Batwa, the Government indicates in its report that, since 2003, elementary education was provided free of charge and that education funds at the district level supported poor households to ensure education for their children. The Committee requests the Government to provide further and more detailed information on the specific measures taken to improve the access of members of the Batwa community to education, including vocational training, and to employment and occupation, as well as information on the impact of these measures on the overall socio-economic situation of this group.