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Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Sierra Leone (RATIFICATION: 1966)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Referring also to its observation under the Convention, the Committee hopes that the Government will provide full information on the following matters raised in previous direct requests.

1. The Committee has noted the Government's statement that the terms and conditions of employment collectively agreed by the Trade Group Councils under the provisions of the Regulations of Wages and Industrial Relations Act (No. 18 of 1971) are applied without discrimination to all workers covered by the agreements. The Committee asks the Government to indicate which sectors of employment are still not covered by collective agreements made pursuant to the 1971 legislation, apart from those specifically excluded. Having noted from a collective agreement for the Public Utilities Employees (Sierra Leone Gazette, Vol. CXIII, No. 16, 16/9/82) that "medical facilities shall be extended to families of workers, that is, one wife and four children under 18 years of age", the Committee would ask the Government whether such benefits would be extended equally to the family of a woman worker who is employed pursuant to this or a similar agreement.

2. The Committee has noted that a vocational guidance counselling service was being provided in the Central Employment Exchange; and that provision was being made for technical and vocational training at technical institutes and trade schools under the control of the Ministry of Education. The Committee would ask the Government to indicate how equality of opportunity and treatment is being implemented in these areas and to forward any relevant statistics or publications.

3. The Committee noted that no action has been taken on the recommendations contained in the study on education, training and employment opportunities for women prepared by a research team appointed by the Sierra Leone National Commission for UNESCO. The Committee hopes that the Government will be able to include in its next report information on the attention being given to these recommendations.

4. Referring also to its observation on the Convention, the Committee would ask the Government to supply in its next report information on all steps taken for the positive fulfilment of the requirements of the Convention and on the results attained to ensure equal treatment irrespective of sex, religion, political opinion and ethnic or social origin with regard to:

(a) access to vocational training;

(b) access to employment and to particular occupations;

(c) terms and conditions of employment. In this connection the Government is more particularly requested to indicate the measures taken to promote equality of opportunity and treatment:

(i) in employment, vocational training and occupational guidance under a national authority;

(ii) through legislation and educational programmes;

(iii) in co-operation with employers' and workers' organisations and other appropriate bodies, in particular with regard to employment in the private sector and matters not settled by collective agreements.