Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Congo (Ratification: 1999)

The Committee notes with deep concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments. The Committee informs the Government that, if it has not supplied replies to the points raised by 1 September 2022, then it may proceed with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the information at its disposal at its next session.

Repetition

Articles 1–3 of the Convention. Protection against discrimination. Legislation. For many years the Committee has been emphasizing the shortcomings in the Labour Code and the General Civil Service Regulations regarding the protection of workers against discrimination, since these texts do not cover all of the grounds of discrimination or all the aspects of employment and occupation set out in the Convention. The Committee recalls that the Labour Code only covers the grounds of “origin”, gender, age and status in relation to wage discrimination (section 80) and the grounds of opinion, trade union activity, membership or not of a political, religious or philosophical group or a specific trade union in relation to dismissal (section 42). The General Civil Service Regulations prohibit any distinction between men and women in relation to their general application and any discrimination on the basis of family situation in relation to access to employment (sections 200 and 201). The Committee notes the Government’s indication that a preliminary draft of a new Bill amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Labour Code will take into account the grounds of discrimination set out in Article 1(1)(a). The Committee asks the Government to ensure that, within the framework of the ongoing revision of the Labour Code, discrimination on all of the grounds set out in the Convention is explicitly prohibited, as well as discrimination on any other grounds which it considers appropriate to include in the Code, at all stages of employment and occupation, including recruitment. The Committee also asks the Government to take the necessary measures to amend the provisions of the General Civil Service Regulations in order to ensure that civil servants are protected as a minimum in relation to the grounds set out in Article 1(1)(a) in respect of all aspects of employment, including recruitment and promotion. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on any legislative developments in this respect.

Article 1(1)(a). Discrimination based on sex. Sexual harassment. The Committee notes that the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) expressed deep concern at the high prevalence of violence against women and girls, especially sexual harassment at school and at work, the delay in adopting a comprehensive law to combat all forms of violence against women and the lack of awareness regarding this issue and of reporting of gender-based violence (CEDAW/C/COG/CO/6, 23 March 2012, paragraph 23). The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, since 2011, the new draft Bill amending and supplementing certain provisions of the Labour Code has contained provisions against sexual harassment. The Committee once again asks the Government to ensure that provisions covering both quid pro quo harassment and sexual harassment which creates a hostile, intimidating or offensive environment are adopted and that they protect the victims of sexual harassment and establish penalties for the perpetrators. The Committee also asks the Government to take steps, in collaboration with employers’ and workers’ organizations, to prevent and combat sexual harassment, such as awareness-raising measures for employers, workers and educators as well as for labour inspectors, lawyers and judges, and to establish information systems and complaints procedures which take into account the sensitive nature of this issue in order to bring an end to these practices and allow victims to exercise their rights without losing their jobs.

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

The Committee expects that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.