Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Saint Lucia (Ratification: 1983)

Legislation. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that with the coming into force of the new Labour Code, all laws and regulations containing discriminatory provisions will be revoked. The Committee reiterates the hope that the new Labour Code will enter into force without delay, thus repealing the Factory Regulations, 1948, and that all laws and regulations containing provisions excluding women from entering certain jobs will be repealed.

Exceptions based on inherent requirements of the job. The Committee notes that section 5(2)(g) of the Equality of Opportunity and Treatment in Employment and Occupation Act, 2000, has not been repealed or amended. Remaining concerned that the application of this provision may lead to exclusions from employment contrary to the principle of equality as defined in the Convention, the Committee urges the Government to take the necessary steps to repeal or amend section 5(2)(g) in order to ensure conformity with the Convention, in law and in practice. Please report on the progress made in this regard.

Practical application. In the absence of any information on this point, the Committee reiterates its request to the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to promote equality of opportunity and treatment in the private and public sectors through awareness raising, training and other practical measures, and their impact on achieving the objective on equality with respect to all the grounds covered by the Convention.