Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Trinidad and Tobago (Ratification: 1970)

Article 1(1)(a) of the Convention. Discrimination based on sex. For nearly 20 years, the Committee has been expressing concern about the discriminatory nature of several provisions providing that married female officers may have their employment terminated if family obligations affect the efficient performance of their duties. In this regard, the Committee welcomes the Government’s indication that Regulation 57 of the Public Service Commission Regulations was revoked in 1998 and Regulation 58 of the Statutory Authorities Service Commission Regulations was revoked in 2006. The Government also indicates that Regulation 52 of the Police Commission Regulations, which provides that the appointment of a married female police officer may be terminated on the ground that her family obligations are affecting the efficient performance of her duties, will be put before the Police Service Commission for consideration. The Committee further recalls the potentially discriminatory impact of section 14(2) of the Civil Service Regulations, which requires a female officer who marries to report the fact of her marriage to the Public Service Commission. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary steps to revoke Regulation 52 of the Police Commission Regulations to eliminate this long-standing discriminatory provision, and to provide information on any progress made in this regard. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to amend section 14(2) of the Civil Service Regulations to eliminate any potentially discriminatory impact, for example by requiring notification of name changes for both men and women.

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