Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Yemen (Ratification: 1969)

Article 3(a) of the Convention. Legislation. The Committee recalls that article 5 of the Labour Code provides for the right and the duty to work without discrimination on the grounds of sex, age, race, colour, creed or language. It further recalls that it has been stressing for many years the importance of declaring and pursuing a national equality policy covering all the grounds enumerated in the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government is currently revising the Labour Code. The Committee accordingly requests the Government to take the opportunity of the current revision of the Labour Code to explicitly prohibit direct and indirect discrimination based on at least all of the grounds of the Convention, including political opinion, social origin and national extraction, with respect to all aspects of employment and occupation and all workers.

Article 2. National Equality Policy. The Committee recalls that, with a view to achieving the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation, States are required to develop and implement a multifaceted national equality policy. The implementation of the policy presupposes the adoption of a range of specific and concrete measures, including in most cases the need for a clear and comprehensive legislative framework, and ensuring that the right to equality and non-discrimination is effective in practice. Proactive measures are required to address the underlying causes of discrimination and de facto inequalities resulting from deeply entrenched discrimination (see General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, 2012, paragraph 732). The Committee asks the Government to take steps to develop and implement a national equality policy to address discrimination and promote equality in the public and private sectors, at least with respect to race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction and social origin. The Government is asked to provide information on any measures taken in this respect.

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