Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2023, published 112nd ILC session (2024)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Ghana (Ratification: 1961)

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Article 2 of the Convention. National Equality Policy. Gender equality in employment and occupation. The Committee welcomes the statistical information provided by the Government in its report which indicates a higher employment rate for men whether in the public (58.9 per cent) or private sector (63.9 per cent) compared to women (41.1 per cent and 36.1 per cent respectively). It also observes that women participate more in sectors such as services and sales (43.2 per cent) whereas men are found more in sectors such as skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery (35.4 per cent) or in craft and related trades (21.1 per cent). The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that, since 2015, the National Gender Policy (NGP) has been used as a guide for mainstreaming gender across all sectors. Other institutions like the Ghana Police Service, Immigration Service, and Environmental Protection Agency have used it as a guide to develop their sector-specific policies which are being implemented. The Government also adds that the NGP has been reviewed and it is yet to be submitted to Cabinet for consideration and approval. Moreover, the Department of Gender (within the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection) advocates and sensitizes the public, on the need to reform outmoded sociocultural practices, beliefs and perceptions that promote gender discrimination, and militate against the rights and the development of women and men. The Government informs the Committee that, the Affirmative Action Bill has still not been passed and that some positions have been earmarked for women to bridge the inequality gap but does not specify which ones. The Government’s report does not provide information on the implementation of the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies (2017–24) which aims to introduce various measures to promote gender equality, such as a quota system of women in 30 percent of public appointments in order to progressively attain gender balance in all Government-appointed committees, boards and official bodies. In that regard, the Committee notes that the impact of the measures taken by Governments to fight discrimination often remains uncertain, in the absence of regular monitoring and periodic evaluation. Therefore, it wishes to stress that it is essential to follow up on the results and effectiveness of the plans and policies implemented, and that employers’ and workers’ organizations can play an important role in the formulation, promotion and evaluation of such plans and policies (see 2023 General Survey “Achieving Gender Equality at Work”, paragraphs 303 and 304). The Committee asks the Government to provide information on: (i) the results achieved so far with respect to gender equality following the implementation of the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies (2017–24); (ii) the progress made towards the adoption of the Affirmative Action Bill; and (iii) the positions allocated for women within the affirmative action policy, as well as the measures taken to improve women’s employment in sectors where their participation is low. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide statistical information, if available, on the employment of men and women in the public and private sector, disaggregated by sex and sector of activity.

Article 3. Education and vocational training. The Committee notes that the 2008 Education Act is still under review. It however observes that the Government has put in place a series of initiatives to promote girls’ and women’s education/training and participation in the labour market, such as: free access to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); teacher training and nursing training allowances; Ghana School Feeding Programme which provided employment for 32,496 caterers and cooks, especially women, to generate income to enable them to take care of their families; and the organization of 44 sensitization programmes, reaching over 5,000 people in different communities across the country on Adolescent Reproductive Health Rights, Harmful Practices (HP), Child Marriage, adolescent pregnancy, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). The Committee requests the Government: (i) to keep it informed of any progress regarding the review of the 2008 Education Act to ensure that it will prohibit discrimination in education on all the grounds explicitly listed in Article 1(1)(a) of the Convention; and (ii) to continue its efforts in addressing gender segregation in education, occupation and vocational training, and in promoting women’s access to a wider range of jobs, in particular higher-paid jobs and jobs offering career advancement. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the number of men and women enrolled, assessed, and certified in TVET programmes, disaggregated by subject; and the employment rates of men and women in the various economic sectors and occupations.

Article 5. Special measures. Persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it has started developing an Employment Equity Policy for workers with disabilities which seeks to promote equal opportunity, inclusion, and fair treatment in employment through the elimination of discrimination. It further notes the statistical information provided by the Government on the distribution of workers with disabilities in the labour market. It notes that, the employment rate of women with disabilities in both urban and rural areas (29 per cent in both areas) is higher than that of men with disabilities (19 per cent and 22 per cent respectively). The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the progress made towards the adoption of the Employment Equity Policy; and to continue to provide statistical information on the situation of workers with disabilities in the labour market, if possible disaggregated by sex, sectors or occupations.