Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

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

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report. Further to its previous comments concerning the low participation of women in the public service, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that according to Section 46(b) of the Civil Service Regulations No. 55 of 2002, the selection and appointment of employees for work in the Civil Service Authority is made on the basis of criteria which ensure equality between all Jordanians. The Government also indicates that it is adopting an employment policy that makes no distinction between men and women. The Committee recalls that the prohibition of discrimination is not sufficient in itself to eliminate discrimination and achieve equality in reality; it is often necessary to adopt special positive measures to promote equal opportunity and access of women to employment and occupation. Therefore, the Committee again hopes the Government will be in a position to report on specific measures taken or envisaged with regard to recruitment policy and further training policy to achieve an overall increase in the participation of women in the public service, and particularly at the higher levels. The Committee requests the Government continue to provide up-to-date statistics on employment in the civil service classified by category and sex.

2. Further to its previous comments on inequalities between men and women in education and vocational training, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that the conditions specified in the Civil Service Regulations for the nomination of officials to training sessions do not distinguish between the sexes, that the Government undertakes to carry out the National Training Project with the participation of 12,000 male and female trainees, and that the National Training Institute has several training centres for both sexes without discrimination. The Committee again requests the Government to provide more detailed information, including statistical data, on targeted measures taken to improve women’s educational attainment, technical skills and practical experience, on the progress made in providing training for women in non-traditional sectors, and on the measures taken to ensure that training leads to a wider variety of employment opportunities for women, so that they are able to compete on an equal basis with men for a wide variety of posts in the public and private sectors, especially higher level posts.

3. The Committee notes that the Government’s report once again does not provide any information on how the Government is promoting a national policy of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation with respect to grounds other than sex, as covered by the Convention. It therefore urges the Government to indicate in its next report how protection against discrimination in employment and occupation on the basis of race, colour, national extraction, religion, political opinion and social origin is ensured in law and practice.

The Committee is also addressing a request on related and other matters directly to the Government.