Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Bahrain (Ratification: 2000)

Equality of opportunity and treatment between women and men. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Supreme Council for Women has been established, as well as a unit for equal opportunities between the sexes in the Ministry of Human Rights and Social Development. The equal opportunities unit coordinates with the Supreme Council of Women in resolving complaints, organizing workshops and training courses. The Government states that the Supreme Council of Women has adopted a long-term strategy, including with a view to disseminating information on the Convention and undertaking activities to improve the status of Bahraini women. The Committee notes further from the Government’s report to the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review of the Human Rights Council that there is a national plan for mainstreaming Bahraini women aimed at implementing the “National Model for Integrating Women’s Needs in Development” and that the Government’s current programme for legislative reform includes initiatives aimed at empowering women economically, politically and socially (A/HRC/21/6/Add.1, 13 September 2012, paragraph 27). The Government also provides information on the beneficiaries of government training programmes, with women accounting for over 75 per cent; however, no indication is given of the areas of training being undertaken by women. The Government also provides information on the number of jobseekers registered with the Ministry of Labour (66 per cent women). The Committee asks the Government to provide specific information on the following:

• (i) the mandate of the Supreme Council of Women, the activities or measures undertaken by the Council or the unit for equal opportunities to disseminate information on the Convention and promote equality of opportunity between men and women in employment and occupation, and the results achieved;
• (ii) the nature and number of complaints received by the Council or the unit for equal opportunities and the outcome thereof;
• (iii) the long-term strategy, the National Model for Integrating Women’s Needs in Development, and the legislative reform undertaken or envisaged as they relate to the principle of the Convention, and their impact on improving employment opportunities for women in employment and occupation;
• (iv) the number of women and men respectively benefiting from vocational training, including information on the type of training, and how such training has translated into employment opportunities;
• (v) the measures taken to ensure that women have access to a wider range of educational, training and employment opportunities, including in areas traditionally dominated by men.

National equality policy with a view to eliminating discrimination based on race, colour, religion, political opinion, national extraction and social origin. While noting the measures taken to promote equality for women, the Committee notes that little information is provided by the Government on a national equality policy aimed at eliminating discrimination based on the other grounds enumerated in the Convention. The Committee recalls that the Convention requires that the national equality policy be effective, and therefore should be clearly stated, which implies that, among other things, programmes should be set up, stereotyped behaviours and prejudicial attitudes addressed and a climate of tolerance promoted, and monitoring put in place; measures to address discrimination in law and practice should be concrete and specific and should address all the grounds set out in the Convention (see General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, 2012, paragraph 844). The Committee therefore urges the Government to take steps to adopt a national policy to promote equality of opportunity and treatment with a view to eliminating discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, political opinion, national extraction and social origin, and to provide specific information in this regard.

Cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Committee notes the Government’s general indication that it endeavours to hold consultations with the social partners on the projects and plans that it seeks to implement as well as on the implementation of relevant laws. The Committee asks the Government to provide specific information on any consultations undertaken and other cooperation with employers’ and workers’ organizations with a view to implementing the non-discrimination provisions of the Labour Law and promoting non-discrimination and equality in employment and occupation in practice.

Enforcement. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that discrimination is difficult to detect through labour inspection and requires the presence of persons who are efficiently training on inspection methods, international labour standards and human rights principles. The Government also provides some general information on awareness-raising activities for workers, though without specific reference to equality and non-discrimination in employment and occupation. The Committee asks the Government to provide information on the specific training provided to labour inspectors, as well as others involved in the monitoring and enforcing of the application of the Labour Law, to assist them in better identifying and addressing issues of discrimination in employment and occupation. Please also provide information on any measures taken to raise awareness of the non-discrimination provisions of the Labour Law and the principle of the Convention, as well as the available avenues of dispute resolution, among workers, employers and their representatives.

Statistics. Recalling that appropriate data and statistics are crucial in determining the nature, extent and causes of discrimination, to set priorities and design appropriate measures, to monitor and evaluate the impact of such measures and make any necessary adjustments, and noting that the Government once again has not provided such information, the Committee urges the Government to collect and analyse statistical information on the distribution of women and men (nationals and non-nationals) in the different economic sectors, occupational categories and positions, in the public and private sectors, as well as the levels of remuneration.