Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Dominican Republic (Ratification: 1964)

Article 2 of the Convention. Equality of opportunities for men and women. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the adoption of the gender equality management model aimed at the application of good practices concerning gender equality, and on the launch of the Igualando RD label to recognize enterprises and organizations which develop a quality model based on gender equality. The Government also indicates that it has provided training and awareness raising to labour inspectors regarding equality of opportunities and non-discrimination. The Committee further notes the agreement signed between the Ministry for Women and the Ministry for the Economy on 4 November 2014 to mainstream gender policy in the National Development Policy. The Committee notes however that the Government has not supplied information on the implementation of the National Plan for Gender Equality and Equity (2007–17). In this regard, the Committee recalls the importance of monitoring the implementation of plans and policies to determine their results and effectiveness (see General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, 2012, paragraphs 844–847). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted within the framework of the National Plan for Gender Equality and Equity (2007–17), and on their impact on the promotion of equal opportunities between men and women. The Committee asks the Government in particular to provide information, including statistics, on the adoption and impact of the specific measures to increase women’s participation in the country’s political and economic spheres and especially in the labour market, including sectors traditionally occupied by men.

Access to training. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that training was provided within the framework of the Programme to Support the National Employment System to 41,362 women out of a total of 75,181 participants. The Government also indicates that it aims to ensure that women account for at least 50 per cent of the participants in the training and skill-building programmes. The Committee emphasizes the importance of providing vocational guidance and of taking active measures to promote access to vocational education and training, free from considerations based on stereotypes or prejudices, to thereby broaden the range of occupations from which men and women are able to choose (see General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, 2012, paragraph 750). The Committee requests the Government to continue providing specific information, including statistics, on the steps taken to increase women’s participation in vocational education and training, the impact of those and the barriers identified.

HIV/AIDS. The Committee notes that the Government refers to Programme 13 on equality of opportunities which promotes training and awareness raising relating to HIV/AIDS in the workplace, and the activities carried out by the Technical Unit for Comprehensive Care (UTELAIN). The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures adopted to prevent and eliminate discrimination on grounds of HIV/AIDS, and on complaints submitted in that respect, including on the requirement of testing to establish HIV status, penalties imposed and the compensation granted.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2015.]