Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the adoption in 1996 of the new Industrial Relations Act. Recalling that the Employment Bill is awaiting debate in the tripartite committee before being tabled in Parliament, the Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of the adoption of this latter text. Noting that the Technical Memorandum sent by the ILO to the Government on the review of the Swazi labour legislation also contained draft texts concerning the public service, the Committee would like to receive information on the follow up given to the draft public service legislation, in so far as it relates to the principle of equality embodied in the Convention.

2. The Committee notes, however, that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read, in part, as follows:

(i) The Committee notes that, in 1990, approximately 150 women, as opposed to 450 men, were admitted to vocational training courses but that the intake of women was to double once adequate facilities have been provided, and again asks the Government to indicate the particular courses to which women have been admitted or are being encouraged to undertake, and to provide details of the measures being taken by the responsible authority to increase women's participation in training courses under its direction.

(ii) The Committee again requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or under consideration to encourage girls and women to pass the "O" level examination which is a requisite for application for student grants and training courses for employment in the public services. The Committee hopes that the report outlining pre-service training for public sector employment, which is in the process of being prepared, will be available in the near future and that the Government will also supply details on the number of men and women accepted for these courses.

(iii) With regard to application of the Convention in the private sector and the procedure whereby collective agreements are monitored prior to registration by the Industrial Court, the Committee recalls that sections 29 and 35 of the Employment Act of 1980 prohibit discrimination in and termination of any contract of service, apprenticeship or traineeship. It would be grateful if the Government would provide information on the practical measures adopted or contemplated in the context of the Bill which is currently being discussed to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity and employment for particular groups of the population (such as women and ethnic groups) in all areas of the private sector, including those not covered by collective agreements.

(iv) The Committee notes that consideration is still being given to the means of involving employers' and workers' organizations in efforts to promote equality, and trusts that the Government will shortly be able to indicate that a tripartite programme of action has been determined and implemented.