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

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

1. The Committee refers to its previous comments concerning the application of Ministerial Order No. 326 of 1993, which specifies the occupations and activities that women may not perform. In this regard, the Committee recalls once again that protective measures for the employment of women, such as those contained in Ministerial Order No. 326, should be reviewed periodically in light of current scientific knowledge and technology relevant to those occupations, in order to determine their continued relevance. The Committee notes from the Government’s reply to its previous direct request that such a review has not yet been carried out, the reason for this being that the current measures were still considered adequate. However, the Committee also notes from the Government’s report that section 160 of the Labour Code is currently being examined by the competent authorities in respect to the jobs and occupations from which women are excluded. The Committee therefore hopes that this review will also take account of its comments and that a review of the Ministerial Order will follow in due course.

2. The Committee reiterates its request for information on the distribution of men and women employed in the civil service at grades 13 or higher, as well as on any measures taken to promote women’s access to the higher grades in the civil service. In addition to previously requested information regarding the distribution of men and women in the different jobs and occupations, the Committee also would like to receive information on the respective levels of income of men and women in these jobs and occupations.