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

Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 (No. 156) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (Ratification: 1984)

Article 3 of the Convention. National policy. The Committee notes the information sent by the Government indicating that section 98 of the Regulations to the Basic Labour Act establishes, where all other conditions are equal, a preference in employment for women and men workers with family responsibilities. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the national policy on workers with family responsibilities and to state whether, in addition to dependent children, it also includes other members of the immediate family who clearly need their care or support. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any documents or studies on national policy in this area.

Article 4(b). The Committee notes the Government’s statement that according to the Act of 2007 on prevention, working conditions and working environment, workers shall have one day’s leave per month during their children’s first year in the interests of medical paediatric care. The Government also states that the legislation provides that workers with family responsibilities shall get preference for taking their holidays so as to coincide with the school holidays of their children. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures adopted to take account of the needs of workers with family responsibilities regarding conditions of employment and social security (see Paragraphs 17–22 and 27–30 of the Workers with Family Responsibilities Recommendation, 1981 (No. 165).

Article 5. Services and facilities for care of children and other members of the family. Observing that the Government has sent no specific information on this matter, the Committee requests it to report on the measures adopted to give practical effect to this Article and to provide information on the percentage of workers who benefit from each of the possibilities mentioned, indicating progress made and difficulties encountered. The Committee also asks the Government to forward the conclusions of the Labour Inspectorate regarding the annual reports submitted by the employers on fulfilment of the obligation regarding the establishment of crèches or early education services for workers’ children, provided for in sections 101 and 102 of Act No. 4447. The Committee again asks the Government to provide information on the childcare services available to workers with family responsibilities who have children over 5 years of age.

Article 6. Awareness raising about the principle of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the activities conducted by the National Institute for Women (INAMUJER) to promote, through information and education, a better understanding by the public of the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment for men and women workers in terms of the problems encountered by workers with family responsibilities, and to engender a climate of public opinion that is conducive to overcoming these problems.

Articles 9 and 11. Participation of employers’ and workers’ organizations in the application of the Convention. The Committee notes that according to the Government, there are collective agreements in the public and private sectors that provide for benefits for workers with family responsibilities, such as a bonus for the birth of a child, student scholarships and school equipment. The Committee requests the Government to provide copies of collective agreements containing provisions that give effect to the Convention and to report on any other measures whereby employers’ and workers’ organizations participate in the application of the Convention.