Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment

Brief history

The Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment (CITE) was established on July 1979, on the basis of a government decision with the support of the social partners. CITE, is a Portuguese equality entity with a tripartite and equilateral composition, having 4 members from the State, 4 members from the trade union confederations (CGTP-IN e UGT) and 4 members of the employers’ confederations (CCP, CIP, CAP e CTP), whose mission is the promotion and monitoring of social dialogue on gender equality, amongst other areas.
The Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment (CITE) objectives are to pursue:
• Equality and non-discrimination between women and men in labour, in employment and vocational training;
• Protection of parentality (maternity, paternity and adoption);
• Reconciliation of professional, personal and family life.
• Legal service face-to-face;
• Legal support in writing;
• Legal service by helpline;

Mandate Type

Predominantly promotion-type and legal support body

Litigation power:

• Formally deciding on complaints (e.g. decision or recommendation addressed to the parties) legally binding
• Formally deciding on complaints (e.g. decision or recommendation addressed to the parties) Not legally binding

Activities

Our institution has a mandate to deal with:

• Gender equality in the labour, employment and vocational training

Other statistics:

Management

• Single headed equality body (led by director or ombudsman/commissioner)
• Collegiate headed equality body (led by a distinct board/commission)
• Combined (CITE is led by a president and has a board that meets once a month, or exceptionally by the initiative of the Presidency or by request of a third of its Members)

Management details

Combined (CITE is led by a president and has a board that meets once a month, or exceptionally by the initiative of the Presidency or by request of a third of its Members)

CITE is a combined mechanism as its structure is between a single headed equality body and a collegiate-headed body. 
CITE has a President and a vice-president nominated by the minister responsible for the area of Employment.
CITE has also a Board with 12 members. Members of the Board are nominated by the government and by the social partners.
CITE has a tripartite and equilateral composition.

Additional details

CITE is a service of public administration, which under the organic of the Ministry of Labou, Solidarity and Social Security is identified as “other structures”. Having legal personality but no financial autonomy, CITE’s budget is provided by Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional (IEFP) which provides also the technical and administrative support.

Procedure for nomination and appointment of management and board

CITE’s President and Vice-President are appointed by the Minister responsible for the area of Employment, following the selection procedures of the vacancy notice for these posts.
CITE’s Board has 12 members, which are nominated by the government and by the social partners.

Number of staff dealing with equality issues

Grounds and fields of discrimination covered by the equality body

Mandate covers:

• Public sector
• Private sector

Operating budget in euros

Operating budget in euros for the parts of the organisation dealing with equality issues (all types of functions)

We are accountable to

• National Ministry