A/HRC/41/33/Add.1
should be created to generate positive changes. Laws and policies should be developed that
recognize, reduce and redistribute women’s unpaid care work and provide adequate social
protection, including childcare facilities.
41.
The experts noted that in the maquila sector, concerning the delocalized
manufacturing of garments, and where labour rights violations have been widely reported, 16
workers are predominantly women: they are therefore predominantly affected by the work
hazards of the sector, including repetitive physical tasks that, when carried out over an
extended length of time, lead to physical strain and injury. The experts were informed that
the pressure under which workers were asked to perform caused mental distress and that the
regular granting of temporary contracts for that type of work prevented them from enjoying
the same legal protections and social benefits as other workers. At the same time, rural
women’s travel to urban areas in order to perform this work can cut them off from extended
family networks and other forms of social support. In addition, in a country where violence
against women is an ever-present reality, travel to and from work before and after a long
shift places maquila workers’ personal security at risk. The experts also received
allegations that the salaries in maquilas were below the minimum national salary, that
employees often suffered from harassment, exploitation, psychological pressure based on
high production objectives, longer working hours, few resting times, little time to eat and
no access to drinking water. The weak unions, the lack of knowledge about laws and labour
rights (such as the laws on collective contracts and on social insurance and the Labour Code)
do not help the situation.
42.
The experts are also concerned about the rights of domestic workers, who reportedly
receive low pay for long hours of work and often face bad working and living conditions.
The nature of domestic work, which is carried out in private rather than in public spaces,
renders domestic workers vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. In this respect, the experts
take note of a pending domestic workers’ bill, which seeks to provide greater protection to
domestic workers. However, they are concerned that this draft law falls short in some
respects, as it fails, inter alia, to expressly stipulate a minimum wage and require mandatory
social protection. The experts hope that the law that is adopted will be in compliance with
international standards, such as with respect to a minimum wage, access to the State social
security system,17 decent working hours, resting time and paid leave.
43.
According to the Honduran Private Enterprise Council, despite some progress made,
the rate of women in business leadership positions remains very low: 18 only 27 per cent of
presidents of executive boards are women. A recent study by the Honduran Private
Enterprise Council concluded that there was still a long way to go before attaining inclusive
and gender-sensitive management of businesses, stressing that the corporate culture was
still very male-dominated. Domestic care work seems to be one of the major barriers for
women’s empowerment and promotion to the highest levels of leadership. Honduras has the
lowest rate of public childcare provision in Latin America. 19
Education
44.
While the rates of progress and completion of education among girls are slightly
higher than those among boys, 20 girls face significant obstacles in accessing quality
16
17
18
19
20
10
See, for example, A/HRC/29/27/Add.1 and Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Situation
of Human Rights in Honduras (Washington, D.C., 2015); see also concluding observations of the
Human Rights Committee (CCPR/C/HND/CO/2) and the Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (E/C.12/HND/CO/2).
The previous Government issued a decree granting access for domestic workers to the services of the
Honduran Social Security Institute, but on an optional basis only, depending on the will of the
employer.
Honduran Private Enterprise Council, “Mujeres en la gestión empresarial en Honduras”.
The State of World Population 2017: Worlds Apart –Reproductive Health and Rights in an Age of
Inequality (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.17.III.H.1).
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, “Honduras”, Data for the
Sustainable Development Goals database. Available at http://uis.unesco.org/country/HN
(accessed on 7 January 2019).
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