Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Iceland (Ratification: 1963)

Further to its observation the Committee notes the detailed information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous direct requests; it also takes note of the documentation furnished with the Government's report under Convention No. 100.

1. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of an Action Plan for Nordic Cooperation on Equality between Women and Men 1989-93, which focuses on working conditions and education among other subjects. It also notes that the Nordic Council of Ministers will focus on the two themes: women's role in economic development; and women's and men's opportunities in combining family life with a job outside the home. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of the progress of these projects within the field of the Convention.

2. With reference to its previous direct request concerning the National Economic Institute's investigation into wage differences between women and men, the Committee notes from the information in the Government's report that the study revealed that, in recent years there has been little change in the occupational distribution of men and women; occupations are characterised as either "male" or "female" with women forming a significant majority of the workforce in many services, while management positions are usually filled by men. The Committee requests the Government to indicate what measures the Government intends to take to address the discriminatory effects which can result from occupational segregation, both vertically within occupations and horizontally between different occupations and the impact of any such initiatives. In this connection, it would be grateful if the Government supplied additional information on the surveys carried out regularly by the Equal Status Council on the role of women in managerial positions and positions of responsibility. Other aspects of the investigation are taken up in the the Committee's comments on Convention No. 100.

3. Further to its previous comments the Committee requests the Government to provide an account of the results achieved by the implementation of the first Four-Year Plan of Action.

4. The Committee notes with interest that special plans of action to increase women's participation on committees, boards and councils were initiated in government ministries and public bodies in 1989 and that a progress report will be prepared on the results of these plans. It hopes the Government will forward information on the results achieved when it becomes available.

5. The Committee takes note of the information gathered recently on the employment opportunities for women in rural areas and the role of women in agriculture, and hopes the Government will keep it informed of the implementation of the proposals elaborated as a follow-up to these studies and on whether women's employment prospects have actually improved as a result.

6. The Committee notes with interest the measures indicated by the Government concerning educational and vocational instruction and counselling in respect of equality between women and men. It hopes the Government will continue to keep it informed of the measures taken in these areas including information on experimental programmes, counselling services, curriculum reviews and course offerings, and the impact such initiatives have on the attitudes and behaviour of young persons entering the labour market. In this connection, the Committee notes the Bryt project and hopes the Government will take its findings into consideration in the formulation of future plans, policies and programmes in the fields of education and vocational training.

7. The Committee notes the information on the need and strategies for the development of an increased number of day care centres in Iceland as well as the other proposals made by the interdepartmental committee on family matters. It requests the Government to keep it informed of the measures taken to reach the goals set out by the Committee and on their impact on promoting equality between women and men in the workplace.

8. Further to its previous comments concerning complaints received by the Equal Status Council, the Committee notes from the information received that the majority of cases deal with complaints regarding the appointment of a male applicant over a female applicant to a managerial position, and advertisements depicting women in a derogatory or humiliating way. The Committee hopes the Government will take into consideration this information in the formulation of future measures to promote equality and that it will continue to provide such information in future reports.

9. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the cooperation between employers' and workers' organisations and the Equal Status Council to promote equality between women and men in employment.

10. The Committee again requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken or contemplated pursuant to section 3 of the new Act on Equal Status (also section 5 of the former Act) to improve the status of women for the purpose of promoting equality.