E/C.12/LIE/CO/2-3
17.
The Committee refers the State party to its general comment No. 16 (2005) on
the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all economic, social and
cultural rights.
Unemployment
18.
The Committee regrets that statistical data and other sources of information on
unemployment are not disaggregated by disability or national origin. While noting the low
unemployment rate, the Committee expresses its concern at the relatively higher
unemployment rates among youth, non-nationals and women, especially those belonging to
minorities (art. 6).
19.
The Committee recommends that the State party collect statistical data on
unemployment disaggregated by national origin, disability, sex and age. The
Committee recommends that the State party intensify its efforts to reduce
unemployment rates, while paying particular attention to the above-mentioned groups.
Right to just and favourable conditions of work
20.
The Committee is concerned about the limited progress made in closing the gender
wage gap in the State party, which further increases with age. The Committee is also
concerned at the overrepresentation of women in part-time jobs or in lower-paid sectors and
at the persistence of occupational segregation by sex (art. 7).
21.
The Committee recommends that the State party step up its efforts to close the
gender wage gap. In that regard, the Committee recommends that the State party:
(a)
Promote training for women in non-traditional fields and in areas that
will provide them with equal career opportunities, and take other effective measures
to address occupational and industrial segregation by sex;
(b)
Take appropriate measures to eliminate gender role stereotypes and
promote the equal sharing of responsibilities between men and women in the family
and society, including by strengthening the availability and affordability of childcare
services and by providing paternity leave and paid parental leave;
(c)
Strengthen its measures to promote flexible work arrangements for both
women and men in the private and public sectors.
22.
The Committee expresses its concern at the wage gap between nationals and nonnationals resident in the State party. The Committee is also concerned that the labour
inspectorate (tripartite commission) is limited in its work to those workers covered by
collective agreements, thus excluding workers in the construction industry, among other
industries (arts. 2 and 7).
23.
The Committee recommends that the State party pursue its efforts towards
closing the wage gap between nationals and non-nationals resident in the State party.
It also recommends that the State party ensure that inspections of workplaces are
regularly carried out and ensure that the labour inspectorate is well resourced to
enable it to discharge its role effectively. The Committee further recommends that the
State party provide detailed information in its next periodic report on the activities of
the labour inspectorate, including on investigations launched and their outcomes. The
Committee refers the State party to its general comment No. 23 (2016) on the right to
just and favourable conditions of work.
Right to social security
24.
While noting recent legislative changes in this regard, the Committee remains
concerned about limitations in access to social assistance benefits by non-nationals, since
their permanent residency status could still be made dependent on the extent of their
reliance on such benefits (art. 9).
25.
The Committee reminds the State party that social assistance benefits
constitute a core obligation under article 9 of the Covenant and recommends that the
State party ensure that permanent residents can fully enjoy their right to social
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