Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Benin (Ratification: 1961)

The Committee notes with interest the information supplied by the Government concerning the repeal of section 52 of Act No. 86-013 issuing the general conditions of employment of permanent state employees, and the Government's intention to remove all reference to certain public posts being reserved for men (by virtue, in particular, of Decree No. 85-363 issuing the regulations of employees of the post and telecommunications service) when the general conditions of service of the public service are reviewed. It requests the Government to provide the text of the new law as soon as possible.

The Committee notes, however, that the report does not contain sufficient information on the other questions raised and therefore hopes that the next report will provide full information on the following points:

1. Noting that - according to the Government - no case of discrimination as regards recruitment has been reported, the Committee reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on the practical application of Act No. 90-004 of 15 May 1990 governing the registration of workers, recruitment and termination of employment contracts. Also noting the Government's indication that it has taken no special measures to encourage the access of women to employment within the framework of structural adjustment measures, nor to increase the awareness of enterprises in this respect because such action could give rise to discrimination, the Committee recalls the terms of Article 2 of the Convention and asks the Government to take account of Article 3(a) in its efforts to implement a national policy of non-discrimination in employment.

2. Since the statistics previously requested were not attached to the Government's report as stated, the Committee recalls the importance of statistical analyses for evaluating the effective implementation of the national non-discrimination policy, and again asks the Government to provide information on the practical measures taken to encourage the effective promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment in the public and private sectors in respect of: (a) access to vocational training; (b) access to employment and the various occupations; (c) conditions of employment, and on the results of these measures. It requests the Government to ensure that its next report does supply data (including statistics, e.g. on the percentages of men and women in the various post and telecommunications categories, and extracts of inspection reports and legal rulings.