Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Honduras (Ratification: 1960)

The Committee notes the Government's report for the period 1991-92.

1. With reference to its previous comments, in which it noted that the proportion of women who are candidates for qualifications and who obtain qualifications is very much lower than that of men, the Committee notes the information contained in the report concerning the promotion of education and vocational training for women with a view to increasing their opportunities on the labour market. It notes in particular that the Government intends to give priority attention to this field and that the "National action plan for human development in the Honduras, 1992-2000" includes this objective. It requests the Government to transmit with its next report statistics comparing the development of the proportion of women in relation to men in the various vocational training institutions, and the concrete results achieved in increasing the opportunities of women through the application of the above National Plan. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would also supply information on vocational guidance programmes and on any measures which have been taken to broaden the choice of occupations available to girls, with a view to increasing their opportunities on the labour market.

2. The Committee notes that 52.7 per cent of public sector jobs are held by women and 47.3 per cent by men, and that the level of responsibility of women is increasing. The Committee would be grateful to be provided with more detailed information in this respect, for example, in the form of tables showing professional skills by sex and by job category in the public sector, including the public service.

3. With regard to equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation without any discrimination, the Committee notes the Government's statement that the provisions of the Constitution and the laws which are in force guarantee equality for all persons in respect of work. The Committee recalls that in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention, the Government is bound to declare (in a precise manner) and pursue a policy to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment and occupation. In this respect, the Committee draws the Government's attention to paragraphs 157 to 176 of its 1988 General Survey on Equality in Employment and Occupation, which examines the formulation and content of such policies, as well as their application. In particular, the Committee emphasizes in paragraph 159 that "while affirmation of the principle of equality before the law may be an element of such a policy, it cannot in itself constitute a policy within the meaning of Article 2". The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the measures which have been taken or are envisaged to implement such a policy in practice, both in the private and public sectors, in accordance with the Convention.