Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Cameroon (Ratification: 1988)

Article 1(1)(a) of the Convention. Grounds of discrimination. Legislation. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it is revising the Labour Code and its enabling texts in full and that the revised legislation will contain provisions defining and prohibiting direct and indirect discrimination based on each of the criteria listed in the Convention. The Committee urges the Government to take the necessary steps to ensure that the Labour Code includes provisions defining and prohibiting direct and indirect discrimination based on race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction and social origin, at all stages of employment and occupation, and asks it to provide specific information on progress in the revision of the labour legislation.

Discrimination based on sex. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s assurance that any provision which has the effect of destroying or impairing equality of opportunity or treatment for women in employment and occupation will be repealed. It notes, however, that the Government gives no indication of progress made in the process of revising the legislation. It further notes that in its concluding observations, the United Nations Human Rights Committee stated that it remains concerned that women are vulnerable to discrimination under customary law, and at the prevalence of stereotypes and customs in Cameroon which are contrary to the principle of equality of rights between men and women. The UN Human Rights Committee considers that Cameroon should strengthen and pursue its efforts to address discriminatory traditions and customs through education and awareness-raising campaigns (CCPR/C/CMR/CO/4, 4 August 2010, paragraph 8). Noting this information, the Committee again urges the Government to take the necessary measures without delay to remove from the legislation the provisions that have the effect of discriminating against women in employment and occupation, and asks it to provide information on the measures taken to this end. The Committee also asks the Government to take steps to combat stereotyping and prejudice regarding the respective roles of men and women in society so as to remove obstacles to the employment of women. The Committee also requests the Government to provide specific information on the status of the work in process on the Bill for the prevention and punishment of violence against women and discrimination based on sex, and to send a copy of it as soon as it has been adopted.

Article 2. National policy on equality of opportunity and treatment. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that there is no discrimination whatsoever on grounds of race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion or social origin in Cameroon. It notes that the Government merely indicates that it will take the necessary steps to prepare and implement the national policy on equality. Pointing out that no society is completely free of discrimination, the Committee again asks the Government to take the necessary steps as soon as possible to declare and pursue a national policy on equality including programmes of action and specific measures to promote equality of opportunity and treatment without distinction as to race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin, and to address discriminatory practices in employment and occupation. The Government is also asked to provide information on progress made in declaring and pursuing this policy and on the results obtained.

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