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

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Saudi Arabia (Ratification: 1978)

1. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in reply to its previous comments and its statement that the measures intended to apply Islamic law, which are intended to combat any discrimination between citizens, are based on the fact that any illegal discrimination is considered to be an injustice prohibited by the Koran and the "Sunna" (the sayings and practice of the Prophet) and that the principles of Islamic law are not only moral obligations but have been set down in legal texts so that they can be implemented. The Committee notes this statement and requests the Government to indicate in its next report any positive practical step that has been taken to give effect to Islamic law and also to apply the principle of non-discrimination on the grounds set out in Article 1(a) of the Convention. The Committee would be grateful to be provided, in particular, with details on the results obtained, following these measures, in the field of equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation, as set out in the Convention.

2. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the information supplied by the Government concerning the measures that have been taken to promote vocational training, and it requested the Government to indicate the number of women who have had access to the training centres set up by the Government, their percentage in relation to men, and the jobs for which they have been trained. As the Government's report contains no reply on this point, the Committee is bound to repeat its request and hopes that the next report will contain the information that has been requested.

3. As to access to employment and equal conditions of employment, the Committee notes the Government's indication that no ministerial order has been issued to specify the occupations and activities that are prohibited to women and young persons on the grounds that they are dangerous and that, as a consequence, this prohibition remains confined to the types of work set out in section 160 of the Labour Code. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of any changes that may occur in this respect.

4. In its previous comments regarding the conditions of service of the public service (Royal Decree No. 49 of 10 July 1937), the Committee requested fuller information on job classification and the objective appraisal of jobs in respect of the various categories of public servants set out in sections 2 and 3 of the conditions of service. The Committee also requested the Government to indicate the number of women employed in the public administration and their percentage in relation to that of men, and to state how far they are recruited for, or promoted to, posts in the higher grades (from grade 13 up for example). As the Government has not supplied information in reply to these comments, the Committee is bound to repeat its request in the hope that the next report will contain information on the above points.