Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Pakistan (Ratification: 1961)

1. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report concerning the presence of representatives of non-Muslim minorities in the National Assembly and in Provincial Assemblies, as well as on the Advisory Council for Minorities' Affairs. The Committee would also like to be provided with more detailed information on the activities of the National Commission for Minorities, and of the subcommittees which it has recently constituted.

Please also supply any reports or studies undertaken by the Minorities' Affairs Wing of the federal Ministry of Religious Affairs and Minorities' Affairs.

2. Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government repeats that 6 per cent of all vacancies in the federal services are reserved for backward classes, without giving any further details in this respect, and it would be grateful if the Government would supply information in its next report on any measures which have been taken for the effective promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment, without discrimination on grounds of social origin, as well as on the results achieved, particularly with regard to:

(a) access to vocational training;

(b) access to employment and particular occupations;

(c) terms and conditions of employment, and more specifically the measures taken to promote equality of opportunity and treatment:

(i) in the employment, vocational training and guidance coming directly under the Government's authority;

(ii) through legislation and educational programmes; and

(iii) with the cooperation of employers' and workers' organizations and other appropriate bodies, particularly with regard to employment in the private sector and matters not covered by collective agreements.

3. With regard to women, the Committee notes the efforts undertaken to improve the social and economic situation of women and the representation of women workers. It notes that employment generation projects for women have been undertaken and requests the Government to continue to keep it informed in future reports of other initiatives in this respect. It also requests the Government to supply up-to-date information on the activities of the Ministry of Women's Development, on the progress made in improving the proportion of women employed in the federal administration following the adoption of the 5 per cent quota and its possible extension to jobs in provincial administrations, on the activities of the Legal Rights Committee and also on the adoption of the "First National Policy for Women". It would be grateful if the Government would supply detailed information on the eighth Five-Year Plan and on the measures taken to give effect to it and the progress made in promoting equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women in employment.