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Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No. 156) - Guinea (RATIFICATION: 1995)

Articles 3, 6 and 8 of the Convention. National non-discrimination policy. Information and education. Protection against dismissal. In its previous comment, the Committee emphasized that that there was still no national policy concerning workers with family responsibilities and it asked the Government to take the necessary measures, in law and practice, to ensure that men and women workers with family responsibilities who so wish are able to access employment or be engaged in employment without discrimination and, if possible, without conflict between their employment and family responsibilities. It also recalls that it previously highlighted the absence of a provision prohibiting dismissal on the basis of family responsibilities in the Labour Code and it asked the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that family responsibilities do not constitute a valid reason for terminating the employment relationship. The Committee notes the Government’s brief indications in its report that it will take account of the Committee’s concerns in the context of the forthcoming revision of the Labour Code and requests ILO technical assistance in the process of revision of the Code. The Committee also notes the Government’s general reference to the formulation of “national policies on children and welfare, the family and social values”. While recognizing the difficult situation prevailing in the country, the Committee requests the Government to formulate and implement a genuine national policy having the objectives, inter alia, of eliminating all discrimination in law and practice against workers with family responsibilities and promoting the principle of equal opportunities and treatment for these workers in all areas of employment and occupation. To this end, the Committee requests the Government to take steps to: (i) prohibit explicitly in the Labour Code any discrimination on the basis of family responsibilities in all areas of employment and occupation, including recruitment and dismissal; (ii) allow workers with family responsibilities to be informed of their rights and to assert them; and (iii) support these workers, particularly through the setting up of suitable structures and mechanisms and the implementation of public awareness-raising and information campaigns on the problems faced by workers with family responsibilities. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on each of the points raised above and to send copies of the national policies to which it refers in its report.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.