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

Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No. 156) - El Salvador (Ratification: 2000)

Article 2 of the Convention. Workers covered. The Committee notes the extensive information provided by the Government on vocational training activities, technical assistance and the promotion of cooperatives intended for men and women workers in general in the various economic sectors. However, noting that the Government has not provided information on this subject, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures adopted or envisaged for the benefit of temporary workers with family responsibilities.

Article 3. National plan. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that a national policy on workers with family responsibilities has not been adopted at present. Recalling that the Convention refers to the need to include among the aims of national policy that of enabling persons with family responsibilities who are engaged or wish to engage in employment to exercise their right to do so without being subject to discrimination and, to the extent possible, without conflict between their employment and family responsibilities, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on the progress achieved in this respect in its next report.

Articles 4 and 7. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the implementation of the National Employment Plan and the formulation of a National Employment Policy. The Government provides information on the specific measures and projects formulated for the generation of employment and indicates that the majority of the users (51 per cent) of the National Employment Service are women. It also refers to the plans for the reintegration into the labour market of women who are family breadwinners, the activities undertaken in response to specific requests for the training of workers and the creation of flexible education programmes. The Committee notes the progress achieved in the social coverage of children and its extension up to 12 years of age, and the plans to extend social protection to agricultural workers and women domestic workers. The Committee further notes the criteria established by the Act respecting equality, equity and the eradication of discrimination against women with regard to the provision of grants to women who have had to delay their studies for reasons of maternity and the prohibition impeding the access of women to education for reasons of pregnancy. The Government also refers to the organization of health centres providing care at night and the National Maternal Nursing Policy. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the implementation of the National Employment Plan, the National Employment Policy and the Act respecting equality, equity and the eradication of discrimination against women in relation to the application of the Convention, and particularly on the specific measures adopted to enable workers with family responsibilities to be able to enter and remain in the labour force, and to return to work following absence due to such responsibilities.

Article 5. The Committee notes the extensive information provided by the Government concerning the promotion of employment and occupation for the most vulnerable categories of the population. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures compatible with national conditions and possibilities to develop or promote public or private community services (such as kindergartens) to take into account the needs of workers with family responsibilities. The Committee asks the Government to provide statistical data on the availability of such facilities and the number of workers benefiting from them, disaggregated by sex.

Article 6. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the inspections carried out in the maquila sector and its indication that the Act respecting equality, equity and the eradication of discrimination against women establishes the requirement to develop attitudes of shared responsibility between women and men in the tasks of maintenance and care for the home environment, the family and elderly persons. The Committee also notes the copies of the educational brochures prepared concerning gender equality. Recalling the importance of the existence of true awareness of the problems confronting workers with family responsibilities and the need to adopt measures as a basis for establishing effective equality of opportunity and treatment in the labour market, the Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the specific measures adopted under the Act respecting equality, equity and the eradication of discrimination against women.

Articles 9 and 11. The Committee notes the court decisions referred to in the Government’s report. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the provisions and measures relating to the application of the Convention which have been adopted through collective bargaining, and on any other manner in which workers’ and employers’ organizations participate in the adoption of measures to give effect to the Convention.

Part V of the report form. The Committee notes that the Secretariat for Social Inclusion is examining the possibility of organizing the development of systematic indicators on workers with family responsibilities together with the National Directorate of Statistics and Census. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on this subject.