Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

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

The Committee notes the brief information contained in the Government’s report.

1. The Committee takes this opportunity to emphasize the importance of supplying detailed information to the Office in order to enable it to evaluate the application of the Convention in practice. It is bound to point out that it is hard to accept statements to the effect that the application of the Convention gives rise to no difficulties or that the instrument is fully applied, especially when the Government has indicated that it has no policy to promote equality in employment and occupation and when no other details are given on any specific measures undertaken in this area. Recalling the statistical information contained in the United Nation’s Economic and Social Council (Document E/1990/5/Add.48 of 5 September 2001) the Committee notes that only 25.81 per cent of women are engaged in the public sector and that women are poorly represented in the private sector. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide with its next report full information on the situation of men and women in the labour market and to provide information on any measures taken to improve the participation of women and members of minority groups in training and skill development activities, jobs and entry into various occupations.

2. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that it has not yet formulated a specific national policy for the promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation and that it requests the technical assistance of the ILO in this respect. The Committee hopes that it will be possible to provide such assistance in the near future. The Committee also hopes that the Government will make every effort to seek and acquire this assistance and to initiate action to develop a policy and other programmes to address direct and indirect discrimination and to promote equality on all grounds listed in the Convention. It further hopes this initiative will be undertaken in consultation with representatives of workers’ and employers’ organizations.

3. The Committee notes the creation of a Human Rights Committee and a Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Justice and Legislation under the terms of Decree No. 97-30 of 29 January 1997. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the measures taken or envisaged by the Human Rights Committee and the Human Rights Department to promote the principle of equal treatment in employment and occupation.

4. The Committee notes the Order adopted in July 1999 under section 168 of the Labour Code regulating the nature of work and categories of enterprises in which the employment of young persons (14 to 18 years old), women and pregnant women is prohibited, in accordance with Article 5(2) of the Convention. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to supply with its next report a copy of the special conditions of service of permanent state employees, under section 12 which reserves access to certain posts to one or other sex on the basis of their particular constraints.