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

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Israel (Ratification: 1959)

Article 1 of the Convention. Discrimination on the basis of sex. Sexual harassment. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s reports regarding Conventions Nos. 111 and 100, including information on the number of cases of sexual harassment addressed within the civil service and through criminal proceedings. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to prevent and address sexual harassment at work, including information on the number and outcomes of cases dealt with by the competent bodies and authorities.

Article 2. Promotion of gender equality in employment and occupation. The Committee notes from the Government’s report that women’s employment rate (age 16 to 65) increased from 54.4 per cent in 2000 to 56.9 per cent in 2006. Data published by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics indicate that in 2007 the percentage of women participating in the civilian labour force (aged 15 and over) was 51.1 per cent (56.7 per cent for Jewish women and 20.5 percent for Arab women) as compared to 61.8 per cent for men (61.4 per cent for Jewish men and 61.7 per cent for Arab men). The Committee notes that the Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women has continued to promote women’s employment opportunities, including through advocacy and training. The Authority’s 2006 report indicates that a study on the needs of Bedouin, Circassian and Druze women was under preparation. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed statistical information, disaggregated by sex and population group, regarding labour force participation, as well as employment and unemployment rates. It also requests the Government to provide data indicating the participation of women in management positions (private and public sectors). In addition, the Government is requested to continue to provide information on the measures taken by the different responsible government agencies to achieve gender equality in employment and occupation, including information on measures taken in favour of immigrant, ultra-orthodox Jewish and other minority women. In this regard, please indicate the outcome and follow-up to the abovementioned study on the needs of Bedouin, Circassian and Druze women.

Parental rights. The Committee notes that under section 4 of the Employment (Equal Opportunities) Act, parental rights as granted to female employees in accordance with the terms of employment customary at her workplace, are also to be granted to male employees. Parental rights within the meaning of the section are: (1) absence of work due to the child’s illness; (2) shortened work day; (3) the right to use the services of a day-care centre which the employer makes available; and (4) the employer’s contribution to the cost of an external day-care centre. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the implementation of these provisions, including information on the number of employers offering such parental rights and the number of men and women employed by them making use of them. Please indicate any other measures taken or envisaged to promote reconciliation between work and family obligations, including any initiatives carried out in collaboration with workers’ and employers’ organizations.

Article 3(e). Vocational training. The Committee notes the explanation provided by the Government regarding the vocational training courses organized by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Labour, including a computer-skills programme targeted at ultra-orthodox women in which 315 of them participated, and training courses held for the Bedouins in the Negev reaching some 1,400 persons in 2006. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to ensure adequate vocational training opportunities for groups particularly disadvantaged in the labour market, including minority women. In this regard, please indicate the number of men and women participating in the different training programmes.