Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Haiti (Ratification: 1976)

The Committee notes the Government’s report in which it underlines the importance and relevance of the Convention to the elimination of discrimination in employment and occupation in Haiti. It notes the Government’s statement that it remains committed to declaring and pursuing a national policy to promote equality of opportunity and treatment and to undertaking efforts to implement the Convention, and that it will communicate in future reports information on the measures taken to apply the Convention. The Committee also takes due note of the difficulties the country may at present be confronted with in implementing the provisions of the Convention and hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to provide information on the matters raised below.

1. Equality between men and women. The Committee notes the communication dated 24 May 2002 of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), stating that the majority of poor urban women have no employment opportunities other than domestic service or market sales. In the formal public and private sectors, women have few opportunities for advancement and women’s employment in higher level positions remains an exception. In its previous comments, the Committee had taken note of the Government’s intention to encourage women’s participation in vocational training projects and projects to promote small trades in urban and rural areas. The Committee requests the Government to provide: (1) an indication in its next report of the number of women that have participated in these projects and the impact on their employment opportunities; and (2) any other information on the measures taken, including by the Women’s Service of the General Directorate of Labour and Manpower and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, to improve the economic status of women, including their advancement into higher level positions.

2. Sexual harassment. The Committee notes the information provided by the ICFTU that sexual harassment frequently occurs in the export assembly sector. The Committee refers to its 2002 general observation on this issue and requests the Government to provide information on any measures taken to prevent and prohibit sexual harassment in the workplace, especially in the export assembly sector.

3. Political opinion. With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes that in its communication, dated 26 August 2002, the Trade Union Federation of Haiti (CHS) states that discrimination on the basis of political opinion still prevails in Haiti and that no measures are being taken to address it. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to indicate in its next report the measures taken to ban discrimination based on political opinion and how effect is given to Article 4 of the Convention concerning the right to appeal of persons suspected of activities prejudicial to the security of the State.

4. National extraction. The Committee notes that the Government’s report does not contain a reply to its previous comments regarding the reservation of certain functions under the Constitution and the Public Service Act to Haitians of Haitian parentage. It recalls that discrimination on the basis of national extraction is contrary to the Convention and encourages the Government to take the necessary measures to bring its legislation in line with Article 1(1)(a) of the Convention.