Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100) - Syrian Arab Republic (Ratification: 1957)

Social security. In response to the Committee’s previous comments calling for the repeal of section 60(a) of the Social Security Law No. 92 of 1959, the Government indicates that providing women with 15 per cent of their average salary when they resign due to marriage or pregnancy, benefits women. The Committee must again express its concern that, by providing for compensation where a woman resigns due to marriage or pregnancy, the legislation reinforces stereotypes concerning women’s role in society, in particular the perception that women should bear the sole burden of family and child-care responsibilities, thus exacerbating labour market inequalities. The Committee recalls that such a provision constitutes direct discrimination based on sex with respect to remuneration. The Committee again asks the Government to repeal section 60(a) of the Social Security Act of 1959 and to take measures to ensure that both men and women who take career breaks due to family responsibilities are entitled to benefits. Please provide information of the progress made in this regard.

Occupational segregation as a cause of inequalities in remuneration. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report, in particular regarding steps taken under the Five-Year Plan (2006–10) to improve women’s capacities and leadership skills through projects to establish a centre for career counselling and guidance, and a career management centre. Regarding the information requested on measures taken to address traditional views and stereotypical assumptions which the Government had acknowledged were making it difficult for women to take part on an equal footing in the economic, political and social spheres, the Committee notes the Government’s reference to symposia and conferences on women’s rights. In the absence of any response to its request for information regarding the Government’s reference to “special occupations for women (handicrafts, textiles, etc.)”, the Committee again asks the Government to provide information on the action taken to improve the situation of women working in these “special occupations”, including information on the remuneration paid in these female-dominated occupations in comparison to remuneration paid in male-dominated occupations. It also asks the Government to provide examples of specific measures it has taken to improve women’s access to better paid occupations and also to widen women’s vocational training choices to enable them to move into occupations and positions that attract higher levels of pay. The Committee further asks the Government to continue to take measures to address traditional views and stereotypical assumptions that may exist regarding women’s aspirations, preferences, capabilities and “suitability” for certain jobs, and to provide information in this regard. The Committee also refers the Government to its comments under the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111).

Part V of the report form. Labour inspection. The Committee notes the Government’s acknowledgement that labour inspectors have an important role in ensuring the application of the principle of the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to gather and submit information on any complaints received or violations detected by the labour inspectorate services with respect to the application of the principle of equal remuneration between men and women for work of equal value, the sanctions imposed and the remedies provided. Please also indicate whether any specific training on the scope of the principle of the Convention as well as on its practical implications is provided to labour inspectors with a view to enhancing their capacity to identify shortcomings in the application of the Convention.

Noting that the Government does not provide any information in reply to the other points previously raised, the Committee is bound to repeat part of its previous direct request, which read as follows:

3. The Committee notes the promulgation of Act No. 42, 2003, establishing the Syrian Agency of Family Affairs. Recalling that household and family responsibilities being primarily borne by women contributes to women often choosing to enter into jobs and occupations which are less career-oriented and lower paid, the Committee asks the Government to indicate, in its next report, the activities by the Syrian Agency for Family Affairs to assist women in better harmonizing work and family responsibilities, and to promote a better sharing of family responsibilities between women and men, so as to enable women to enter into better-paid occupations.

4. Statistical information. The Committee notes the statistics on average monthly earnings of men and women for the year 2002–05 but observes that these statistics are very general and do not indicate any differentials in earnings that might exist between jobs or occupations in which men or women are concentrated, and which are of a different nature but of equal value. The Committee, recalling its observation of 1998 on this Convention (attached for ease of reference), asks the Government to provide more detailed statistics on the distribution of men and women by earnings level and by occupation or occupational groups or/and by branch of economic activity.

5. Cooperation with the social partners. The Committee notes the information on the non-governmental organizations playing a role in focusing attention on women’s issues. The Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report how it is cooperating with these organizations as well as with the social partners to promote the principle of the Convention, and the results achieved.