Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Iceland (Ratification: 1963)

1. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of Acts Nos. 57 and 59 of 1987 increasing protection for women in the event of pregnancy and maternity.

2. In its previous direct request the Committee noted that under section 22 of the Equal Status and Equal Rights of Women and Men Act (No. 65 of 1985) the Minister of Social Affairs is required to submit to the Government and the Parliament a four-year plan of action; and that proposals for that plan were then under discussion within the Government. The Committee notes with interest the Government's statement that the plan of action adopted by the Government was submitted to the Althingi in autumn 1986 and that it established objectives in four areas. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the results achieved in each of the four areas of the four-year plan and, in particular:

(a)in the area of employment and wages, the results of the National Economic Institute's investigation into wage differences between women and men, a description of measures taken to adopt flexible working hours in state institutions, and concerning the training courses set up for women wishing to start their own businesses;

(b)in the area of education, results of educational efforts outlined in the report to diversify women's employment participation through encouraging women to make varied educational choices;

(c)in the area of management positions and responsibility, results of efforts by the State and local authorities to equalise the ratio of women to men on public committees, councils and boards under section 12 of the Act and efforts by ministries to give women in government service more opportunities to hold management positions;

(d)in the area of social issues, results of efforts to guarantee spouses working in the home the same rights as those on the labour market, extend maternity leave benefits, establish continuous school hours and increase access to day-care centres and school day-care facilities.

3. The Committee notes that the policy statement and action programme of the Government that came into office in 1987 (a) establishes as a policy that women's financial situations and children's conditions will be improved and women's influence in public life will be increased, (b) mentions a special effort to establish equality of wages between the sexes, (c) discusses reappraisal of jobs held by women in public service and the wage policy of the State as party to wage agreements, (d) examines possible ways to give parents the opportunity to take unpaid leave of absence for the care of children under special circumstances, and (e) emphasises working in accord with the Government's four-year plan of action. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on developments in these areas.

4. With respect to section 3 of the Act under which specific temporary measures intended to improve the status of women for the purpose of establishing equal rights and equal status are deemed not contrary to the law, the Committee notes from the report that this provision has not been applied, but that there is increasing support for the view that affirmative measures are required in order to improve the position of women. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in future reports on the practical application of section 3 of the Act. The Committee also notes the statement that the Act is now being revised, and requests the Government to indicate what progress has been achieved in this respect.

5. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report concerning on the one hand the findings and conclusions of the report for the delegation at the World Conference to Review and Appraise the Achievements of the United Nations Decade for Women, and, on the other hand, the activities of the Equal Status Council. It notes with interest, in particular, the measures taken for the implementation of sections 8 and 10 of the Act concerning education, and that a working group has been established by the Ministry of Education to propose measures to improve equality of opportunity for boys and girls in education. Please indicate what measures have been taken as a result.

6. The Committee also notes the information provided on the situation as regards the employment of women. It hopes that the Government will include information in its next report on the results in Iceland of the four-year experimental programme on women's equality sponsored by the Nordic Ministerial Committee (scheduled to be completed in 1989), and particularly whether special equality advisers will be recruited.

7. As concerns the summary of complaints dealt with by the Equal Status Council, the Committee hopes that the Government will continue to provide such information in its future reports, indicating whether the complaints indicate any trends in regard to the equality of women in employment.

8. The Committee notes with interest the information provided by the Government in its report on efforts (particularly in publication and training activities) by the Equal Status Council to promote good co-operation between employers' and workers' organisations so as to achieve the aims and purposes