Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Sao Tome and Principe (Ratification: 1982)

The Committee notes the brief information provided by the Government in reply to its previous comments. Acknowledging the Government’s participation in the ILO Workshop on International Labour Standards and Constitutional Obligations held in September 2013, in Lisbon, the Committee hopes that the assistance provided by the Office will offer additional guidance in the elaboration of the Government’s next report. It hopes that the report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous observation, which read as follows:

Repetition

Legislation. The Committee notes from the Government’s report on the application of the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100), that a draft General Labour Act has been prepared. The Committee requests the Government to ensure that the legislation will include a prohibition of direct and indirect discrimination at all stages of the employment process and on all the grounds listed in Article 1 of the Convention. It requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to this end.

Policies and institutions. Equality of opportunity and treatment of men and women in employment and occupation. The Committee notes that the Government has adopted a National Strategy for Gender Equality and Equity, which also deals with issues relating to women’s equality in the world of work. Further, the Government indicates that participation of women in education and vocational training is a priority of the Government. With a view to strengthening the promotion of women, a new institute for women is being established under the Ministry of Labour. The Committee requests the Government to provide the following:

• (i) a copy of the National Strategy for Gender Equality and Equity;
• (ii) information on the establishment and activities of the institute for women, on the specific measures taken to promote women’s equal access to vocational training and employment in the private and public sectors, and the results obtained by such action; and
• (iii) statistical information on the participation of men and women in vocational training and the labour market, indicating their levels of participation in the different sectors and occupations.

Awareness raising. The Committee recalls the importance of educational programmes to raise awareness of the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any action taken or envisaged to promote understanding and awareness of the principle of equality among workers and employers as well as society at large, including through cooperation with workers’ and employers’ organizations.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.