Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

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

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report and of the attachments and statistics.

1. The Committee asks the Government to state whether the special scheme for women in domestic service referred to in section 50 of Decree No. 34-2000 of 11 April 2000 approving the Equal Opportunities for Women Act, has already been regulated; if so, the Government is asked to send a copy of the regulations. The Committee observes that section 88 of the abovementioned Decree establishes that the Act repeals provisions of the law which, in their substance, discriminate or restrict the opportunities of women in the exercise and enjoyment of their rights. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the application in practice of this section and on any provisions actually repealed.

2. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure adequate dissemination of the Equal Opportunities for Women Act, and to state whether information and education campaigns have been carried out to acquaint women effectively with their rights. The Committee also asks the Government to provide further information on the practical application of the Act, in particular: (a) specifying which provisions are being applied and which require enabling regulations; (b) giving detailed information on the activities of the labour inspectorate; (c) providing information on complaints or court actions invoking the principles laid down in the legislation; and (d) specifying the penalties imposed to date pursuant to section 8 and the penalty for recurrent breach.

3. The Committee notes the statistics supplied by the Government. It observes that from 1995-99 the total active population has increased by 470,605, that the number of women in employment has risen by 6 per cent and that 90 per cent of economically active women are employed in commerce and catering, community, social and personal services and manufacturing, whereas only 34 per cent of male workers are to be found in the abovementioned sectors. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures being taken to promote women’s access to work and to vocational training, and to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in access to employment for women in minority groups.

4. The Committee also observes that in 2000 approximately 72 per cent of all workers in export processing zones were women and that only 10 per cent of the women held administrative posts as supervisors, human resource managers, assistants, etc. The Committee asks the Government to provide further information on: (a) the problems being addressed in the bipartite and tripartite committees in their periodic meetings and the conclusions or results of such meetings; (b) measures to further women’s access to better paid jobs and management posts; and (c) the steps being taken to encourage the employment of women in non-traditional sectors.

5. The Committee notes from the information supplied in the report that the National Institute for Women has formulated a national women’s policy jointly and with the participation of the public sector and the private sector. The Committee asks the Government to provide specific information on the abovementioned policy, for example its projects, programmes or activities.

6. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the Labour Code reform will not be submitted for examination by the National Congress during the legislative year. It asks the Government to report on any new developments in this respect and hopes that the new Code will contain provisions on equality of treatment in employment and occupation.

7. The Committee asks the Government to supply information on the measures adopted or envisaged to deal with discrimination based on race or religion. With regard to the national policy on equality of opportunity and treatment for indigenous and tribal peoples, the Committee observes that the Government has sent no information on any specific measures implemented or envisaged to ensure non-discrimination in access to work and to vocational training, and in the working conditions. The Committee therefore repeats its request and urges the Government to supply specific information disaggregated by sex.