Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Guyana (Ratification: 1975)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It recalls the communication of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) of 30 October 2003, which raises a number of issues relating to gender equality in employment, including the low representation of women in traditionally male dominated areas of work and particularly the weak labour force participation of Amerindian women. The Committee hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain a reply to the comments made by the ICFTU, and full information on the matters raised in the Committee’s previous direct requests, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report that sexual harassment has been legally prohibited in Guyana. It requests the Government to supply in next year’s report information relating to the implementation of the law prohibiting sexual harassment, including any judicial decisions.

2. The Committee notes the Government’s response to its previous direct request concerning difficulties faced by women in seeking judicial remedies for discrimination in employment and requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the effectiveness of the complaint procedure on discrimination in employment and occupation, especially on measures to prevent delays in litigation in civil cases.

3. The Committee notes from the Guyana National Plan of Action for Women, 2000-04, the various objectives to be achieved, such as promoting leadership, education and vocational training of women. The Government is requested to provide information on the measures taken and achievements made in the implementation of the Plan during the past three years. Please also provide information on any sensitization campaigns or promotional measures taken to enhance understanding of the importance of allowing men and women access to all jobs, even those in non-traditional areas and those in decision-making in both the private and the public sectors. In this regard the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the high level of educational achievements of girls and hopes the Government will be able to report how that has been transposed into the labour market.

4. The Committee requests the Government to supply information concerning the progress in the adoption of Bill No. 6 of 2001 for the establishment of constitutional commissions, including a women and gender equality commission.

5. The Committee notes with interest from the Government’s report that an Ethnic Relations Commission has been established to address racial or ethnic discrimination and to promote equality in employment. The Government is requested to provide detailed information on the activities of that Commission and the manner in which it promotes application of the Convention.

6. Further to previous comments, the Committee notes the information on indigenous persons’ entrance into skills-training programmes, the University of Guyana, and their recruitment into areas such as teaching, police and community work. Please continue to provide such information along with measures taken to promote equal opportunity and treatment of men and women indigenous persons in employment and occupation.

7. The Committee notes the statistics provided and hopes the Government will continue to provide statistics on the labour market in addition to educational institution data.