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

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Czechia (Ratification: 1993)

Article 2 of the Convention. Equality of opportunity of men and women in employment and occupation. The Committee welcomes the adoption of the Strategy for Gender Equality 2021–30 (Government Resolution No. 269), the aim of which is to formulate a framework (under 8 themed chapters) for state administration measures that will contribute to achieving gender equality. The Committee notes the extensive information provided by the Government on actions foreseen under the Strategy. It notes from the report that Czechia has one of the highest gender employment gaps in the European Union (EU), at 15.4 per cent in 2021, and that women's incomes are negatively affected by the lack of capacity in childcare services for children under three, the lack of flexible forms of work and the unequal distribution of care responsibilities. It notes from EUROSTAT 2022 data that Czechia has the third highest gender wage gap in the EU, at 17.9 per cent, compared with an average EU wage gap of 12.7 per cent. The Committee notes that the Work and Care chapter of the Strategy outlines the specific objectives of: (1) reducing inequalities between men and women in relation to care; (2) reducing inequalities between men and women in the labour market; (3) reducing the gender pay gap; and (4) reducing vulnerability to poverty, especially of women. The Committee further notes that the Decision-Making chapter addresses the low representation of women in politics and other decision-making positions of public interest, including the specific objective of increasing the representation of women in decision-making positions. The Committee notes that the Strategy will be evaluated annually as an annex to the Gender Equality Report for the relevant year; a report which now includes recommendations of the Government Council for Equality between Women and Men, a permanent advisory body to the Government in the area of creating equal opportunities for women and men. The Council monitored the implementation of the Strategy in the past year and submitted recommendations to individual ministries for a better implementation of the Strategy. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information, including statistics, on the results achieved through the measures taken as part of the Strategy for Gender Equality 2021–30 and their measurable impact on the employment of women, including women with family responsibilities. In particular it requests information on the measures adopted, as foreseen under the Strategy, aimed at increasing the participation of men in care, increasing the availability of childcare services and kindergartens, supporting informal carers, increasing the motivation of employers to create conditions for the faster return of parents and carers to the labour market, increasing the use of part-time and flexible forms of work, increasing women's entrepreneurial activities, improving information on employment rights in relation to maternity and parental leave, increasing protection for multiple disadvantaged groups, motivating girls and boys to study gender-non-stereotypical fields, and strengthening the competences of career counsellors in the area of gender equality. It again requests the Government to continue to provide statistical information on the situation of men and women in employment, by economic sector and professional category.

Enforcement. Labour inspection. Equality body. The Committee welcomes the information detailing labour inspections carried out from 2018- June 2023 in the field of “unfair treatment and discrimination” and their outcomes. It notes that from 2022 to June 2023, in the area of equal treatment and compliance with the prohibition of discrimination or unequal remuneration, 959 labour inspections were carried out, 501 complaints were lodged, 190 findings were made related to unequal treatment and compliance with the prohibition against discrimination, and discrimination was found in 28 cases, including on the grounds of health, family responsibilities, maternity or paternity, age and nationality. It notes that remedial action was imposed in 31 cases and 39 fines were imposed. The Committee once again asks the Government to provide information on any action taken further to the 2015 recommendations of the Public Defender of Rights and any legal or practical measures taken to strengthen the enforcement of the anti-discrimination legislation. The Committee also request the Government to continue to provide information on the number and nature of any administrative or judicial decisions applying and interpreting the legal provisions on discrimination in the field of employment and occupation, including the remedies provided and the sanctions imposed.