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Article 1(1)(a) and (b) of the Convention. Prohibited grounds of discrimination. Legislation. The Committee notes the adoption of the Labour Code of New Caledonia, which entered into force on 1 May 2008 and which carries over and codifies the laws and regulations which were applicable to this territory, based on the principle of codification on the basis of established law. The Committee notes with interest that in 2009, the Labour Code was amended by Act No. 2009-1 of 7 January 2009 concerning the employment of disabled persons, which added disability to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination and completed the measures to promote the employment of disabled persons. Under section Lp. 112-1 of the Labour Code, it is now prohibited to take into account, in an offer of employment, recruitment or in the labour relationship, a person’s origin, sex, pregnancy, family situation, actual or presumed membership or non-membership of an ethnic group, nation or race, political opinion, trade union activities, disability or religious convictions. However, the Committee recalls that it considers that national legislation giving effect to the Convention should cover all the grounds listed in Article 1(1)(a) of the Convention. The Committee therefore requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged so as to include colour as a prohibited ground of discrimination in the Labour Code and requests it to indicate whether the notions of “social origin” and “national extraction” are covered by one of the grounds listed in section Lp. 112-1 of the Labour Code. The Government is also requested to provide information on the application of section Lp. 112-1 of the Labour Code in practice, in particular on any cases of discrimination in employment and occupation on the basis of one or more of the grounds listed in the Labour Code brought to the attention of the labour inspectorate or the courts and, if applicable, on the manner in which these cases have been dealt with.
Sexual harassment. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the progress made in revising the legislation on sexual harassment and on the measures taken in practice to prevent this discriminatory practice. The Committee notes that the Government’s report merely indicates that a possible bill is still being considered and that sexual harassment is punished under the Penal Code. The Committee notes that in a report adopted in August 2009 (No. 04/2009), the Economic and Social Council emphasized the need to establish prevention and mediation while developing a legal framework which lays down the major principles and requested, inter alia, the creation of a guide on the prevention of moral and sexual harassment. It also notes that, according to this report, the labour and employment directorate of New Caledonia lacks sufficient logistical, human and material resources to take action in this area. The Committee recalls that sexual harassment has particularly serious repercussions on the integrity and dignity of workers, as well as on the productivity of enterprises, and that its criminalization under penal law is not sufficient to combat all manifestations of this form of discrimination in the workplace effectively. The Committee therefore strongly encourages the Government to establish an appropriate legal mechanism which defines and prohibits both quid pro quo sexual harassment and sexual harassment due to a hostile environment. It also requests it to indicate the concrete measures taken, such as awareness-raising campaigns targeting workers, employers, their organizations, labour inspectors, judges and the population at large, to prevent and eliminate this type of discrimination based on sex, in both the private and public sectors. The Government is also requested to provide information on any measures taken to strengthen the bodies responsible for combating harassment at work, as well as on any cases of sexual harassment reported to, or detected by, the labour inspectorate and the measures taken to deal with those cases.
Article 2. Equal treatment and opportunity for men and women. The Committee notes the statistics concerning the proportion of women in the civil service. Noting that the Government indicates in its report that the majority of managerial posts in the public sector are held by men, the Committee requests it to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to encourage access to managerial posts in the public sector by women, as well as their impact. With regard to the private sector, it also requests the Government to provide statistics, disaggregated by sex, on employment in the various sectors of the economy and at the different levels of responsibility.
Article 2. Equal treatment and opportunity without distinction based on grounds other than sex. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the concrete measures taken to promote equality of treatment and opportunity in employment and occupation, including with regard to access to education and vocational training and guidance, in order to eliminate any discrimination based on the grounds other than sex listed in Article 1(1)(a) of the Convention, in particular race, colour and national extraction in both the public and private sectors.
Application to non-nationals. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee notes that pursuant to the provisions of the 2008 Labour Code concerning enterprises established outside New Caledonia which provide services (section 621-1 et seq.), the provisions of the Code prohibiting any discrimination and stipulating equality in occupations, and equal pay between men and women, as well as those concerning maternity protection, are regarded as mandatory. The Committee requests the Government to provide any information available on the application of sections 621-1 et seq. of the Labour Code in practice, in particular on any cases of discrimination reported or noted by the labour inspectorate and, if applicable, on any judicial decision handed down in that regard.
Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee requests the Government to provide extracts from the labour inspectorate’s annual report concerning violations of the principle of non-discrimination and the activities carried out by inspectors with regard to prevention and combating discrimination in employment and occupation, as well as, copies of any judicial decisions handed down relating to equal access to employment and training.
1. Sexual harassment. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the Economic and Social Council, following its study on sexual harassment, had recommended that the Government provide more information for the general public and employers on this kind of discrimination at work and to reproduce the provisions of the Metropolitan Labour Code on sexual harassment in the local labour law. The Council also recommended that provision be made for administrative penalties, in addition to civil or penal sanctions, against public servants found guilty of sexual harassment. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the legislation of New Caledonia on sexual harassment has not changed and is still the subject of a study. The Committee hopes that in this study the Government will take account of all the recommendations made by the Economic and Social Council. The Committee refers the Government to its general observation of 2002 on sexual harassment so that it can adopt the necessary measures in law and in practice to guarantee full protection against sexual harassment. The Committee requests the Government to continue to keep it informed on the progress made in revising the legislation on sexual harassment and hopes that any new provisions will contribute to the full application of the Convention. The Committee also asks the Government to supply information on the measures taken in practice to prevent sexual harassment.
2. Equal treatment and opportunity for men and women. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the increase in the number of women in the most highly paid category of the civil service had not had any impact on women’s presence in higher management posts. The Committee notes from the Government’s last report that the proportion of women in the public sector decreased from 52 per cent (2004 Social Audit) to 49.7 per cent (2005 Social Audit). Moreover, the Committee notes that the proportion of women in the private sector appears to be on the increase since the Government indicated a figure of 37.9 per cent in its previous report but gives a figure of 41.6 per cent in its last report on the Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 (No. 100). The Committee requests the Government to supply information in its next report on the proportion of women in the private and public sectors, including in higher management posts.
3. Application of the principles of the Convention to non-nationals. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that a legislative framework was being developed to protect foreign workers employed by enterprises established outside New Caledonia which provide services in the construction and civil engineering sectors. The Committee also noted that this legislative framework will include provisions on maternity protection and discrimination. The Committee once again asks the Government to supply information on progress made with regard to this legislative framework and hopes that the new provisions will contribute to the full application of the Convention.
4. Promoting and ensuring the application of the Convention. Labour inspection and courts of law. The Committee notes that no decisions have been delivered by the courts relevant to the application of the provisions of the Convention. The Committee notes that the labour inspectorate monitors equal treatment of men and women in the various categories of employment. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on any judicial or administrative decisions relating to equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation. The Committee also asks the Government to provide further details of measures taken by the Labour Inspectorate to detect and address discrimination.
1. Article 1 of the Convention. Sexual harassment. The Committee notes the Advice No. 2/2002 of the Social and Economic Council (SEC) concerning the study relating to sexual and moral harassment at work, highlighting that in New Caledonia the incidence of sexual harassment is significant but that the problem is widely ignored by society at large. The Committee notes that the SEC recommends that greater attention should be paid to informing the general public and employers about the issue. The SEC also envisages legislative measures to transcribe the provisions of the Metropolitan Labour Code concerning sexual harassment into local labour law and to provide administrative sanctions, in addition to civil and penal sanctions, against public servants guilty of sexual harassment. The Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on measures taken to follow up on the recommendations made by the SEC, and to report on the progress made.
2. Equality of treatment between men and women. The Committee notes from the "Social assessment of New Caledonia in 2004" (Bilan social 2004 de la Nouvelle-calédonie) annexed to the Government’s report on Convention No. 100, that women make up only 37.9 per cent of the private sector employees. It notes that, in the public sector, women outnumber men between the ages of 30 and 49 years but that they make up only 34.4 per cent of all civil servants aged 50 years and beyond. Furthermore, the report indicates that the increase of female employment in the highest category A appears to be due to the fact that an increasing number of women have been employed as schoolteachers. The Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report the reasons behind the low percentage of women employed in the private sector and behind the fact that more women than men appear to leave the civil service once aged 50 or beyond. It encourages the Government to continue to collect and analyse statistics on the distribution of men and women in the various occupations and branches of the economy in both the public and private sectors, and include such information in its next report.
3. Application of the principles to non-nationals. The Committee notes that the Government is developing a legislative framework to protect foreign workers employed by enterprises established outside New Caledonia providing services in the area of construction and civil engineering. Noting that the draft law will include provisions concerning maternity protection and discrimination, the Committee asks the Government to keep it informed of any developments in this regard and to provide copies of the text of the relevant provisions.
4. Enforcement. Please provide information on the activities and methods used by the labour inspection services to promote and ensure the application of the principle of the Convention, and any judicial or administrative decisions concerning the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation on the grounds set forth in the Convention.
1. Article 1 of the Convention. Sexual harassment. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that only section 222-44 of the New Penal Code currently prohibits sexual harassment in employment and occupation. Noting that a study on sexual harassment in employment and occupation is currently being undertaken, the Committee requests the Government to provide information with its next report on the findings of this study and on any further measures taken or envisaged to prevent sexual harassment in employment and occupation.
2. Articles 1 to 5. Application in law and practice. Labour inspection. The Committee notes that under sections 22(2) and (3) and 25 of Organic Act No. 99-209 of 19 March 1999, New Caledonia has exercised competence since 1 January 2000 in the fields of labour law, labour inspection and the access of foreign nationals to work. The Committee requests the Government to provide information with its next report on the measures taken or envisaged in accordance with the new competences of New Caledonia to give effect to the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation and to provide copies of any relevant legal texts or studies.
The Committee notes the Government’s brief report for New Caledonia.
The Committee regrets to note that the Government has not provided sufficient information to enable it to assess the application in practice of the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation. It therefore requests the Government to provide detailed information with its next report on the application in practice of the Convention, including the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation, supported by statistical information disaggregated by sex. It hopes that the Government will provide this information with its next report.
Further to its previous direct request, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report and the various texts concerning measures to apply the policy for the training and social and occupational integration of young people.
1. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, as a result of the application of point No. 6 of the Matignon Agreements, signed on 26 June 1988, under which the imbalances in recruitment for the public service are to be redressed, greater account is taken of the ethnic diversity of the territory. It also notes that the programme "400 CADRES" aims to restore ethnic balance in the distribution of responsibilities in the territory. Lastly, it notes that the local missions for the integration of young people, defined in Act No. 89-905 of 19 December 1989, are implementing various measures to improve job seekers' access or return to employment and vocational training. The Committee refers to paragraph 247 of its 1988 General Survey on Equality in Employment and Occupation, and would be grateful if in its next report the Government would provide more detailed statistics of the distribution by sex and, if possible, by ethnic group, of persons who have already benefited from the programme "400 CADRES", from training in the various training centres and establishments and from the measures concerning training and social and occupational integration, including occupational integration contracts and adaptation period contracts.
2. It would also appreciate receiving statistics on the number of staff in the public service, public bodies and private enterprises, disaggregated, if possible, by sex, ethnic group, occupational category and sector. In this connection, it asks the Government to provide information on the specific measures taken to promote women's access to training, employment and posts of responsibility, and the results obtained.
The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous comments.
Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government's statement that the policy pursued following the "Matignon Agreements" should make it possible to give full effect to the above Articles, although it is still premature to assess all the effects, and a more in-depth survey could be undertaken for the next report. The Committee hopes that the Government will supply full information in its next report on the application of Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Convention.
The Committee has taken note of the Government's first report on the application of the Convention and has also examined the legislation appended to it. The Committee requests the Government to communicate with its next report the text of the legislation applying to public servants and workers coming under a "public law statute" who are excluded from the scope of Ordinance No. 85-1181 of 13 November 1985, and to supply additional information on the following points:
- Article 1(a) of the Convention. Unlike this Article of the Convention, section 2 of Ordinance No. 85-1181 does not include "race" and "colour" among the grounds which must not be taken into consideration in offers of employment, recruitment and employment relationship. Please indicate the manner in which application of the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation is guaranteed in these two cases.
- Articles 2 and 3. Please indicate the practical measures taken to implement the national policy to eliminate discrimination, advocated by the Convention and by the national legislation, and to encourage promotion of the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment, particularly with regard to: (a) access to vocational training, (b) access to employment and the various occupations, and (c) conditions of employment. The Committee would also like to receive particulars (including statistics) of the results of these measures in both the private sector and in jobs under the direct control of the national authorities, and of the manner in which the education and information of the public with regard to the policy against discrimination are ensured and encouraged.
- Article 4. Please indicate any legislative or administrative measures, as well as the national practice, governing the employment or occupational activity of persons legitimately suspected of engaging in activities prejudicial to the security of the State, or state where it is established that they do indeed engage in such activities, and to provide particulars of the recourse available to such persons.