CMNT_TITLE

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Algeria (RATIFICATION: 1969)

1. Discrimination on the basis of religion. The Committee noted in its previous comments the Government’s confirmation that constitutional articles referring to fundamental rights of the population, read together, guarantee protection against religious discrimination. The Committee had requested specific information on these provisions, which has not yet been provided. The Committee, therefore, urges the Government to provide copies of all court decisions concerning these provisions and to indicate any measures taken or envisaged to prevent and eliminate the occurrence of religious discrimination in employment and occupation.

2. Discrimination on the basis of sex. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the Decrees on part-time work (No. 97-473 of 8 December 1997) and on homeworkers (No. 97-474 of 8 December 1997) had contributed to the improvement of the employment conditions of these workers, most of whom are women. However, noting the Government’s indication that these Decrees would allow women to have a source of supplementary income for the family budget, the Committee drew attention to the importance of not considering women as supplementary wage earners, as this does not support the promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation. The Committee had also noted the Government’s statement that, in practice, women were still confronted with discrimination in employment resulting from stereotypes that exist regarding a woman’s place in society.

3. The Committee notes that the lack of access of girls and women to non-traditional vocational training opportunities, referred to in its previous comments, is also a reflection of such stereotypes and further hinders women’s equal access to employment. The Government had previously stated that it intended to open up new training branches, including in electricity and electronics, with access to these programmes being linked solely to the capacities of the candidates. The Committee notes from the Government’s most recent periodic report under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW/C/DZA/2, 5 February 2003) that some progress in women’s access to traditionally male fields has been made, and generally the number of women in secondary/higher education and in vocational training is rising. The CEDAW report indicates that, due to the diversification of skills and the extension of training to students in the third year of secondary school, there has been an increase in the number of women in traditionally male fields; however, the numbers remain low, and women continue to be highly concentrated in vocational training courses that lead to traditionally female occupations. The Committee also notes that in 2001 women constituted only 15 per cent of the total labour force.

4. The Committee expresses concern regarding the persistence of strong stereotypical attitudes with respect to the roles and responsibilities of women and men in the family and in society, which have had a serious impact on the employment and vocational training opportunities of women in practice. The Committee, therefore, again urges the Government to further its national policy to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation, and to keep it informed of any progress in this regard. It also requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to facilitate and encourage access of women and girls to more diversified vocational training opportunities, including those leading to traditionally male occupations, so as to afford them a greater chance of entry into the labour market. In addition, the Committee suggests that efforts be made to address stereotypical attitudes through, for example, awareness-raising campaigns, in collaboration with workers’ and employers’ organizations.

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