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Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Equatorial Guinea (RATIFICATION: 2001)

The Committee notes with deep concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments initially made in 2008.

Repetition

The Committee notes that the Government did not take the opportunity provided by the enactment of the Fundamental Act of Equatorial Guinea, on 16 February 2012, and of the General Labour Reforms Act (No. 10/2012), on 24 December 2012, to address the matters raised by the Committee.

Article 1(1)(a) of the Convention. Prohibited grounds of discrimination. The Committee notes that section 15 of the Fundamental Act of 2012 (previously section 15 of the Fundamental Act of 1995) provides that any bias or discrimination on tribal, ethnic, gender-related, religious, social, political or any other similar grounds, when duly ascertained, is punishable by law. Further, under section 1(3)(d) of the General Labour (Reforms) Act of 2012 (previously section 1(4) of the General Labour Act, 1990) the State guarantees equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation and provides that no one may be subjected to discrimination, that is, to any distinction, exclusion or preference on grounds of race, colour, sex, political opinion, national extraction, social origin or trade union affiliation. The Committee notes that while section 1(3)(d) of the General Labour (Reforms) Act of 2012, continues to omit reference to religion as one of the prohibited grounds of discrimination, that ground is included in section 15 of the Fundamental Act of 2012. The Committee recalls that where provisions are adopted in order to give effect to the principles in the Convention, they should include at least all of the grounds of discrimination laid down in Article 1(1)(a) (see 2012 General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, paragraph 853). The Committee therefore urges the Government to take steps to add the ground of “religion” to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination at the earliest opportunity. The Committee once again asks the Government to provide information on the practical application of section 15 of the Fundamental Act of 2012, and of section 1(3)(d) of the General Labour (Reforms) Act of 2012, and to indicate whether any administrative or judicial decisions have been handed down concerning these provisions, and if so, to provide details thereof.

Articles 1(1)(b) and 5. Other grounds. Special measures. The Committee notes that section 1(4) of the General Labour Act of 1990 (now section 1(3)(d) of the General Labour (Reforms) Act of 2012) makes provision for facilitating the recruitment of older workers and those with reduced working capacity. The Committee had previously requested a copy of the National Employment Policy (Reforms) Act No. 6/1999 of 6 December 1999. It notes that section 62 of the National Employment Policy Act No. 6/1992 of 3 January 1992, as amended by the National Employment Policy (Reforms) Act of 1999, provides for the adoption of governmental programmes aimed at promoting employment among workers facing obstacles to entering the labour market, especially young first-time jobseekers, women, men older than 45 years of age and persons with disabilities. The Government is asked to supply information on the practical application of the abovementioned provisions as it relates to older workers, young first-time jobseekers, and persons with disabilities.

Articles 2 and 3. National policy to promote equality of opportunity and treatment. The Committee recalls that discrimination in employment and occupation is a universal phenomenon that is constantly evolving, and that some manifestations of discrimination have acquired more subtle and less visible forms. It is therefore essential to acknowledge that no society is free from discrimination and that continuous action is required to address it. Moreover, the results achieved in the implementation of the national equality policy and programmes must be periodically assessed so that they can be adapted to the population’s needs, particularly for those groups that are most vulnerable to discrimination (see 2012 General Survey, paragraphs 731 and 847). The Committee asks the Government to indicate whether it has a national policy designed to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation, and describe how it is implemented (legal procedures, practical measures, etc.) in each of the following spheres: (i) access to vocational training; (ii) access to employment and to particular occupations; (iii) terms and conditions of employment. The Committee asks the Government to take specific steps with a view to assessing the results of the implementation of the national equality policy and to provide information on its impact on the different sections of the population and to supply statistical data disaggregated by sex, race, ethnic origin and religion on employment and vocational training and any other information which would enable the Committee to evaluate more fully the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice.

Article 4. Measures affecting individuals suspected of activities prejudicial to the security of the State. The Committee once again asks the Government to provide information concerning the practical application of Article 4 of the Convention, as well as specific information on the procedures establishing the right to appeal to a competent and independent body.

The Committee expects that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.