Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Trinidad and Tobago (Ratification: 1970)

The Committee notes with thanks the information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous request for copies of the annual Ombudsman reports, the most recent census reports, the Registry of Community Organizations, the Criteria and Procedures for the Registration of Community Organizations and the summary of the Adult Education Programmes.

1. For several years the Committee has drawn the Government's attention to the incompatibility with the Convention of the provisions of section 57 of the Public Service Commission Regulations, section 52 of the Police Service Commission Regulations, and section 58 of the Statutory Authorities' Service Commission Regulations, which all provide that married female officers may have their employment terminated if family obligations affect efficient performance of duties; and, section 14(2) of the Civil Service Regulations, which provides that a female officer who marries must report the fact of her marriage to the Public Service Commission.

Noting the Government's statement that it will undertake efforts to address these matters, the Committee hopes the Government will be in a position to indicate, in its next report, that measures have been taken to repeal or amend the above Regulations so as to ensure equality in employment between male and female public officials in conformity with the provisions of the Convention.

2. The Committee notes the Government's confirmation in its report that the country has no legislation to prevent discriminatory action in private and non-governmental agencies and that efforts will be made towards appropriate action in this regard. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any action taken to extend legislative prohibition of discrimination and promotion of equality in employment and occupation to the private sector. It further requests the Government to indicate the measures taken, other than legislation, to promote a national policy of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation in the private as well as the public sector on all the grounds covered by the Convention other than sex which is the subject of the 1989 National Policy Statement (race, colour, religion, national extraction, political opinion and social origin).

3. (a) The Committee notes with interest the National Policy Statement on Women issued in 1989, in particular sections X and XI of the policy objectives. With respect to section X, the Policy states that "Government plans for reducing the unemployment levels will include special measures to encourage and assist female entrepreneurs including rural women particularly as regards access to credit and banking facilities". The Committee requests the Government to indicate any measures taken to implement this policy objective and any results achieved.

(b) The Committee also notes from section XI of the Policy that "women will be encouraged to aspire to positions at the decision and policy-making levels in all sectors, including trade unions, cooperatives, media, politics and non-traditional areas". It further notes from the 1970 and 1980 census reports supplied by the Government that the number of men in administrative positions and managerial positions has continued to be significantly predominant over the number of women. Given the relatively low number of women represented in this category, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken to encourage and facilitate the entry of women into decision-making and managerial positions and the outcome of such measures.

(c) Noting the information provided on the structure and responsibilities of the Women's Affairs Division of the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Women's Affairs, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the activities, including any studies, undertaken by the Division aimed at promoting equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women in employment and particular occupations.

4. The Committee notes the Government's statement that no analogous legislation exists for private schools as for public schools, which prohibits refusal of admission to any public school on account of religious persuasion, race, social status or language of such person or the parents of such person (Education Act of 1966), but that the question of taking measures to promote equality on such grounds is being pursued with the relevant agencies. Nevertheless, the Committee notes from the statistics provided by the Government that, in practice, a significant percentage of pupils who attend private religiously affiliated schools are of denominations other than that of the school, thus indicating that religion is not a criterion of admission in these schools. The Committee would therefore be grateful if the Government would indicate in future reports whether consideration is being given to extend private schools the admission grounds listed above and which apply to public schools.