Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

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

The Committee takes note of the complexity of the situation prevailing on the ground and the armed conflict in the country.

Article 5 of the Convention. Special measures of protection. The Committee notes the Government’s reiterated statement, in its report, that equality in employment and occupation applies to women and men except on matters which are specific to women such as reducing hours of work in some professions during pregnancy, maternity leave and the breastfeeding period. It notes, however, that: (1) section 24 of the Labour Relations Act of 2010 continues to provide that women shall not be employed in types of work that are ‘unsuited to their nature as women’, to be defined in regulations issued by the General People’s Committee; and (2) section 95 Law No. 58 (1971) prohibits women employment in difficult or dangerous jobs. The Committee recalls that any restrictions on the employment of women must be strictly limited to maternity protection in the broad sense and that protective measures which are based on stereotypes regarding women’s professional aptitudes and role in society are in violation of the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment between women and men in employment and occupation. The Committee also emphasizes that provisions relating to the protection of persons working under hazardous or difficult conditions should be aimed at protecting the health and safety of both women and men at work, while taking account of gender differences with regard to specific risks to their health and that, when examining the possibility of repealing discriminatory protective measures applicable to women’s employment, it may be necessary to examine what other measures, such as improved health protection for both women and men, adequate transportation and security, as well as social services, are necessary to ensure that women can access these types of employment on an equal footing with men (see the General Survey of 2012 on the Fundamental Conventions, paragraph 840 and the General Survey of 2023 on Gender equality and non-discrimination, family responsibilities, and maternity protection, paragraphs 83–93). Consequently, the Committee once again asks the Government to: (i) indicate how it is ensured that special measures for the protection of women are limited to that which is necessary to protect maternity (in the strict sense), so as not to impede women’s access to employment and occupation; and (ii) provide information on the types of jobs that women are prohibited from entering under section 24 of the Labour Relations Act (2010) and section 95 of Law No. 58 (1971), as well as information on their application in practice.

Cooperation with the social partners. Noting the absence of information provided by the Government on this point, the Committee once again asks the Government to indicate the manner in which it is cooperating with the workers’ and employers’ organizations in promoting the acceptance and observance of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation with respect to all the grounds contained in the Convention.