Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

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

Sexual harassment. The Committee notes that the Government indicates that there have been no further developments with respect to the adoption of the Employment Standards Bill. The Government further indicates that sexual harassment in the workplace will be addressed in the framework of the Government’s Policy Framework for Sustainable Development and that, as a first step, the Ministry of Labour intends to undertake a study on discrimination and sexual harassment in the workplace and conduct sensitization seminars for stakeholders for which they will request the assistance of the ILO. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on any development concerning the adoption of the Employment Standards Bill, as well as on the implementation of the Government’s Policy Framework for Sustainable Development with respect to discrimination and sexual harassment.

Equality of opportunity and treatment of men and women. Concerning the measures taken to promote and ensure equality, the Committee notes that the Government refers to: (1) the promotion of a task force to ensure that proper criteria are met for upward mobility of both men and women in the Trinidad and Tobago police service; (2) measures to encourage the participation of women in vocational training programmes on activities that are traditionally undertaken by men; and (3) measures to train women in practical on-farm aspects of agriculture in the framework of the Youth Apprenticeship Programme in Agriculture. The Government also refers to specific legal provisions related to sexual offences; minimum wages, unwaged work and maternity protection that promote equality. Moreover, the Government provides statistical information on the employment of men and women in the public sector. The Government further indicates that the Minister of Gender, Youth Affairs and Child Development is currently working to finalize the draft Gender Policy and Action Plan. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to promote equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women, including statistical information on the employment situation of men and women and a copy of the National Gender Policy and Action Plan as soon as they are adopted.

Vocational training. The Committee notes that the Government has implemented a series of training, financing and employment programmes that create job opportunities for women. The training programmes focus mainly on the training of women in non-traditional skills to allow them to negotiate better wages and higher levels of employment. The Financial Assistance Programmes assist women who wish to engage in business activities and the employment programmes target unemployed persons of 18 years and more. This programme provides temporary employment and training to qualify women for sustainable work. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed information on the different vocational training programmes, their impact on the promotion of equality and the number of persons that have benefitted from them.

Prohibition of women performing certain jobs. In its previous comment, the Committee requested the Government to indicate if there were any protective measures that excluded women from certain types of employment. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that section 6(9)-(13) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act excludes pregnant women from work that endangers the health and safety of the mother and the unborn child.

Public service. The Committee notes the statistical information concerning men and women employed in the public service. Noting that no further information is provided on the matter, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the distribution of men and women in the different parts and levels of the public sector and to indicate how the access of minorities to the public service is monitored.