Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

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

National Solidarity Plan for Anti-Crisis Employment. The Committee notes the observations of 31 August 2010 by the Single Confederation of Workers of Honduras (CUTH), the General Federation of Workers (CGT) and the Workers’ Central Union of Honduras (CTH). It also notes the observations of 31 March 2011 by the CUTH and the CGT. On 22 August 2011 the CUTH, the CGT and the CTH sent a further joint communication. In all three communications the abovementioned federations referred to the National Solidarity Plan for Anti Crisis Employment, adopted by Decree No. 230-2010 of 4 November 2010 which, they allege, will introduce flexibility in minimum conditions in work relationships and lead to the casualization of wage employment owing in part to the reduction of workers’ wages and benefits. Lastly, the Committee notes the CUTH’s observations, received on 19 September 2011, on the application of the Convention. The Committee notes the communication of the Government, received 30 November 2011, indicating that the National Solidarity Plan for Anti Crisis Employment is part of the Government’s programme for 2010–14 and is temporary in nature. Its objective is the eradication of poverty and increasing employment opportunities for the population; to maintain existing jobs, avoid an increase in unemployment and under-employment, and promote capacity building and vocational training. While acknowledging that it is important to adopt specific measures to overcome the current economic and financial crisis and remedy the prevailing unemployment situation, the Committee draws attention to the importance of closely monitoring how the legislative measures adopted to address the crisis are affecting the employment situation of groups that are particularly vulnerable to discrimination so as to deal appropriately, on the basis of the criteria laid down in the Convention, with all direct and indirect discrimination that may arise in employment and occupation. The Committee also considers it essential to ensure that progress achieved through previous measures to promote equality of opportunity and treatment for men and women and for certain minority ethnic groups such as indigenous peoples is not affected. The Committee requests the Government to send its observations on all the abovementioned comments and, in particular, to provide information on the impact of Decree No. 230-2010 on equality and non-discrimination policies. So that it may examine the Decree’s impact on equality more thoroughly, the Committee asks the Government to send statistical information on the employment and unemployment rates, employment by economic activity or sector in the public sector and the private sector, wage rates and the number of lay-offs.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.