Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Tunisia (Ratification: 1959)

Discrimination on grounds other than sex. The Committee notes with regret that, once again, the Government’s report does not contain information on any measures adopted to promote equality of opportunity and treatment on the basis of criteria other than sex. For several years, the Committee has been noting that the Convention requires the Government to declare and pursue a national policy designed to promote equality of opportunity and treatment with a view to eliminating any discrimination in employment on the basis not only of sex, but also the other grounds enumerated in Article 1(1)(a) of the Convention, namely race, colour, religion, political opinion, national extraction and social origin. The Committee also observes that the existence of legislation that makes no distinction based on these various grounds is not sufficient in itself to ensure the full application of the Convention. Recalling in particular its previous comment with respect to the absence of data on the ethnic composition of Tunisian society, the Committee urges the Government to include in its next report detailed information on the situation of minority groups in relation to employment and occupation, especially for the Berber (or Amazigh) population. Please also provide information on the practical measures taken or envisaged to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, political opinion, national extraction and social origin in employment and occupation in accordance with the Convention.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.