Workers with Family Responsibilities Convention, 1981 is an International Labour Organization Convention.
Background The ILO Convention 156 followed the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979, which recommended some maternity leave, and said in its preamble that states are "aware that a change in the traditional role of men as well as the role of women in society and in the family is needed to achieve full equality between men and women".UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, 1979
Contents The ILO Convention 156 was established in 1981, with the preamble stating:
Article 1 provides the definition of "workers with family responsibilities"
Article 2 states that all branches of economic activity and all categories of workers fall under this convention.
Article 3 cites Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (ILO Convention C 111) to define the discrimination
Article 4 calls for measures to ensure these workers can freely choose employment and have their needs considered in employment terms and social security.
Article 5 advocates for community planning and services (like childcare) that support workers with family responsibilities.
Article 6 encourages public education to foster understanding and support for equality and the challenges faced by these workers
Article 7 promotes vocational guidance and training to help such workers enter, remain in, or return to the workforce.
Article 8 states that family responsibilities should not be a valid reason for terminating employment.
Article 9 allows the Convention's provisions to be implemented through various national legal and institutional frameworks.
Article 10 permits phased implementation of the Convention, considering national conditions, with reporting requirements on progress.
Article 11 ensures employers' and workers' organizations can participate in developing and applying measures related to the Convention.
Articles 12-19 detail the procedures for ratification, entry into force, denunciation, and revision of the Convention, as well as the roles of the ILO and its Director-General in these processes.
This convention is cited by Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (ILO Convention C 183).
Ratifications As of May 2025, the convention had been ratified by 47 states. CountryDateStatusAlbania11 Oct 2007In ForceArgentina17 Mar 1988In ForceAustralia30 Mar 1990In ForceAzerbaijan29 Oct 2010In ForceBelgium10 Apr 2015In ForceBelize22 Jun 1999In ForceBolivia01 Sep 1998In ForceBosnia and Herzegovina02 Jun 1993In ForceBulgaria03 Apr 2006In ForceChile14 Oct 1994In ForceColombia06 Dec 2024Not in Force (The Convention will enter into force for Colombia on 06 Dec 2025)Costa Rica11 Jul 2019In ForceCroatia08 Oct 1991In ForceEcuador08 Feb 2013In ForceEl Salvador12 Oct 2000In ForceEthiopia28 Jan 1991In ForceFinland09 Feb 1983In ForceFrance16 Mar 1989In ForceGreece10 Jun 1988In ForceGuatemala06 Jan 1994In ForceGuinea16 Oct 1995In ForceIceland22 Jun 2000In ForceKazakhstan17 Jan 2013In ForceLithuania6 May 2004In ForceMauritius05 Apr 2004In ForceMontenegro03 Jun 2006In ForceNetherlands24 Mar 1988In ForceNiger05 Jun 1985In ForceNorth Macedonia17 Nov 1991In ForceNorway22 Jun 1982In ForceParaguay21 Dec 2007In ForcePeru16 Jun 1986In ForcePortugal2 May 1985In ForceSouth Korea29 Mar 2001In ForceRussian Federation13 Feb 1998In ForceSan Marino19 Apr 1988In ForceSerbia24 Nov 2000In ForceSlovakia14 Jun 2002In ForceSlovenia29 May 1992In ForceSpain11 Sep 1985In ForceSweden11 Aug 1982In ForceUkraine11 Apr 2000In ForceUruguay16 Nov 1989In ForceUzbekistan07 Aug 2024Not in force (The Convention will enter into force for Uzbekistan on 07 Aug 2025)Venezuela27 Nov 1984In ForceYemen13 Mar 1989In Force
References
External links Text. Ratifications.