CMNT_TITLE

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Switzerland (RATIFICATION: 1961)

The Committee notes the information provided in the Government's report, particularly concerning the measures taken by the Federal Insurance Tribunal to give effect to the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (in the case Schuler-Zgraggen v. Switzerland).

1. The Committee notes that the draft text to revise the Labour Act is continuing to be examined by Parliament, particularly from the point of view of conditions of work, but not as regards equality in employment and occupation. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of the progress achieved in this revision and to provide the text of the revised Act when it is adopted.

2. With reference to its previous comments concerning the implementation and evaluation of programmes to implement the instructions of the Federal Council of 18 December 1991 concerning the improvement in the representation and occupational situation of female staff in the general administration of the Confederation, the Committee notes that according to the report the process of diversifying their capacities and implementing the above instructions continues, particularly through training activities for those responsible for equality in the general administration. The Committee notes that the evaluation of these programmes will be carried out at the end of 1995, following the first four years of their application. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to keep it informed in future reports of the measures adopted in the context of these programmes to further equality of opportunity and treatment in the federal public service and if it would transmit the conclusions reached in the evaluation of their impact, when this has been completed.

3. The Committee notes the information provided on the tenth revision of the Act respecting old-age and survivors' insurance (LAVS), which was adopted on 7 October 1994, confirmed in the referendum of 25 June 1995 and will come into force in 1997. The Committee notes that one of the important and controversial changes made by the revision concerns the raising of the retirement age of women, which will be increased from 62 to 64 years of age in two stages. It also notes that work has also commenced on the eleventh revision and that, in the context of this revision, a motion adopted by the Federal Council of States calls for the introduction of the same retirement age for women and men. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the effect given to the harmonization of the retirement age of men and women.