Solicitud directa (CEACR) - Adopción: 2025, Publicación: 114ª reunión CIT (2026)

Eritrea

Convenio sobre igualdad de remuneración, 1951 (núm. 100) (Ratificación : 2000)
Convenio sobre la discriminación (empleo y ocupación), 1958 (núm. 111) (Ratificación : 2000)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on equality, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine the Conventions Nos 100 (equal remuneration) and 111 (discrimination in employment and occupation) together.

Convention No. 111 – National policy to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation

Article 1(1)(a). Scope of application. Domestic workers. The Committee notes the Government’s reiterated assurance that domestic workers are not excluded from the scope of the Labour Proclamation. It recalls that, under section 40 of the Labour Proclamation, the Minister may, by regulation, determine the provisions of the Proclamation, which shall apply to all or to a category of domestic employees and the manner of their application. It takes note of the Government’s indication that, in line with the 2015 Civil Code, a draft regulation on domestic workers has been finalized and is expected to be approved shortly, following the adoption of the Civil Code. The Committee expresses the firm hope that, once adopted, it will provide effective protection against discrimination in employment and occupation for domestic workers. Please provide information on progress made in this respect, including a copy of the relevant provisions of the Civil Code. In the meantime, the Committee once again asks the Government to specify, pursuant to section 40 of the Labour Proclamation, which provisions of the Proclamation apply to all, or to specific categories of, domestic workers, and the manner in which they applied.

Articles 2 and 5. Equality of opportunity and treatment of men and women. Affirmative measures. The Committee observes, from the statistics published by the Ministry of Education (Asmara), that in the 2023/24 academic year, girls’ enrolment increased by 5.8, 4.1 and 13.9 per cent at the elementary, middle and secondary levels respectively, alongside an overall rise in the number of schools, particularly at the secondary level (Eritrea: Basic Education Statistics 2023/24). It further notes the findings of the United Nations (UN) Eritrea Annual Results Report 2024, which showed that: (1) girls outperformed boys in school retention, with 87.8 per cent of girls reaching Grade 5 compared to 82.7 per cent of boys; and (2) education enrolment rates increased overall, enhancing access to learning opportunities (UN, Eritrea Annual Results Report 2024, p. 17). On the other hand, the Committee notes the findings of the 2023 report of the Ministry of Education (“Eritrea 2023–27 Partnership Compact”) that girls’ enrolment declines at higher levels of education, particularly in remote rural areas, due to socio-cultural barriers, long distances to schools, and the low value placed on girls’ education. The report acknowledges that gender and inclusive education issues remain inadequately addressed and that systemic transformation is needed to ensure girls complete a full cycle of education. In this context, the Committee also notes the World Bank’s data compilation, which shows that: (1) in 2024 the female labour force participation rate was 72.3 per cent compared to 84.3 per cent for men; (2) in 2023, 64 per cent of employed women worked in agriculture; and (3) 83.6 per cent of women were in vulnerable employment (e.g. street vending typically offer very low protection) (World Bank, Gender Data Landscape, Fall 2025 Edition). Finally, the Committee observes that the Government still provides no concrete information on the steps taken to address the factors affecting women’s and girls’ school enrolment, retention and completion, in both urban and rural areas, including those directed at preventing and addressing sexual violence and harassment. The Committee therefore asks the Government to: (i) step up its efforts to encourage and maintain the school enrolment, retention and completion of girls, particularly in rural areas, including those aimed at preventing and responding to sexual violence and harassment; (ii) develop the provision of vocational training for girls; and (iii) encourage access of women to productive resources (such as land and credit) as well as to employment across all sectors of the economy, including high-level positions. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged in this regard, and on the results obtained, including sex-disaggregated statistical data, if available by level of education and sectors of employment, as well as details of any updated gender policy or plan of action.

Ethnic and religious minorities. Affirmative measures. The Committee notes the Government’s reiterated statement that Eritrea emphasizes ethnic and religious cohesion and harmony. The Committee also observes that, in recent years, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea has reported ongoing discrimination against non‑recognized religious denominations, despite the Eritrean law prohibiting religious discrimination. According to the Special Rapporteur’s 2024 report, such discrimination includes: (1) restrictions on employment and economic activity, with Jehovah’s Witnesses prohibited from working in government offices or holding business licences and facing difficulties in finding employment; (2) discrimination in schools, including expulsions of Jehovah’s Witness children for refusing to participate in patriotic ceremonies or sing the national anthem; and (3) the requirement that all high‑school students complete their final year at the Sawa Military Camp and has the effect of preventing Jehovah’s Witnesses from completing high school education, due to their conscientious objection to military service. (A/HRC/56/24, 7 May 2024, paras 43, 44 and 46). The Committee asks the Government to indicate the measures in place: (i) to ensure that members of ethnic and religious minorities, especially non-recognized religious groups, have equal access to education, vocational training, employment and occupation, and access to land, resources and credit; and (ii) to foster inclusion and protection of all workers belonging to ethnic and religious minorities against direct and indirect discrimination. Please provide any available data on the employment and occupation situation of members of ethnic minorities, disaggregated by sex if possible.

Migrant workers. Regarding the case of the workers displaced following the outbreak of the 1998 border conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, the Government indicates that no progress has been made since the award was rendered (17 August 2009) by the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission and that the whole process is still in a deadlock. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any progress on the settlement by conciliation of any remaining cases and the compensation awarded through this process and on the number of cases still pending.

Convention No. 100 – Principle of equal remuneration between men and women for work of equal value

Articles 1(b), 2 and 3. Objective job evaluation. The Committee recalls that previously the Government indicated that the Eritrean Centre for Organizational Excellence (ERCOE) was supporting enterprises – including state-owned enterprises, which can be applicable to the civil service – in developing objective job evaluation methods based on factors such as skills, effort, responsibilities and working conditions, and that, information on collective agreements and their coverage, including any specific provisions for equal remuneration, will be submitted in the next report. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on: (i) the methods and factors used for objective job evaluation in the civil service, in particular indications on the manner in which it is ensured that rates of remuneration are established without discrimination based on sex; and (ii) the impact of the assistance provided by ERCOE to private sector enterprises for the adoption of objective job evaluation methods. Please providecopies of collective agreements containing provisions expressly providing for equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal “value”, together with information on their coverage by economic sector and number of workers concerned.

Conventions Nos   100 and 111 – Application in practice

Article 4 of Convention No. 100 and Article 3(a) of Convention No. 111. Cooperation with workers’ and employers’ organizations. The Committee once again requests the Government to supply: (i) updated information on progress made towards establishing the Labour Advisory Board; and (ii) detailed information on any consultations conducted with social partners for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of these two Conventions.

Statistics. The Government recognizes the importance of collecting and compiling statistics on employment and earnings across economic sectors, disaggregated by sex but reports that specific statistics on the position and pay levels by sex are not yet available. The Committee once again encourages the Government to make every effort to create the necessary conditions for collecting and compiling statistics, disaggregated by sex, in the various sectors of the economy and their corresponding levels of earnings.It requests the Government to provide information on the progress made in this regard.

Enforcement and awareness-raising. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that some discrimination cases have been brought before the labour courts and that, although some were dismissed on procedural grounds, the labour courts have imposed sanctions where appropriate. It also notes the Government’s indication that labour inspectors have detected breaches of the principle of equal remuneration, particularly in the construction sector. The Committee encourages the Government to provide information on the nature and outcomes of discrimination cases handled by the Labour Inspectorate or the Labour Court, including in connection with the violations of the principle of equal remuneration between men and women for work of equal value (including the sanctions imposed and remedies granted). In addition, the Committee asks the Government to report on any training or awareness-raising activities undertaken or planned concerning equality and non-discrimination in employment and occupation in general, including measures to strengthen the capacity of labour inspectors.