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

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

Equality between men and women – Access to vocational training and education. Regarding measures taken to improve women’s employment opportunities and education, the Committee notes the Government’s very general statement that the courses offered by the Gender Affairs Department and the Ministry of Education cover hotel, restaurant and catering sectors and that both men and women benefitting from vocational training have obtained employment. The Government also states that the Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education (ABICE) offers vocational training to both men and women, including on construction and management. The Government further states that there is no evidence of occupational segregation or discrimination in the labour market or the workplace, and that no one is barred from the national scholarship programme. With a view to enabling the Committee to assess in an effective way the progress made in ensuring and promoting equality of opportunity and treatment in respect of employment, education and vocational training, the Committee asks the Government to provide statistical information, disaggregated by sex, on the participation of men and women in the various training courses offered, as well as statistics on the number of men and women that have filled vacancies following such training, including for jobs traditionally held by the other sex. Please also provide information on any other initiatives taken or envisaged to promote women’s participation in courses and jobs traditionally held by men.

Public sector. The Committee notes that the Government once again repeats its previous statement that the categories of workers excluded from section A6(2) of the Labour Code are protected by the non-discrimination provisions in the Constitution. The Government also states that these categories of workers are also protected through collective agreements. The Committee once again asks the Government to provide information on any practical measures taken to protect civil servants, persons in the naval, military or air force, the police force and persons holding diplomatic status, against discrimination as well as measures to promote their equal opportunities. Please also provide copies of any collective agreements covering these workers.

Non-nationals. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that the whole immigrant population, independent of their legal status, is protected against discrimination based on any of the grounds prohibited by the Convention, that is race, colour, sex, religion, national extraction, political opinion and social origin. The Committee further encourages the Government to undertake a study to identify any practices or social and economic conditions that may have a discriminatory effect on the employment opportunities of the immigrant population, and to report on the progress made in this regard.

Statistics. Noting again the absence of statistical data, disaggregated by sex, and where available, also on other grounds, in the Government’s report that may assist in the assessing the progress made in giving effect to the principle of the Convention, the Committee urges the Government to make every effort to collect and supply at least comprehensive and relevant data on employment of men and women in the various sectors and occupations of the public and private sectors.

Part V of the report form. The Committee must reiterate its request for detailed information on the measures that are in place to educate workers on all grounds of discrimination included in the Convention, including information on any seminars or workshops held during the reporting period, or on pamphlets and other literature disseminated or available to the public on this subject.