Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment

Overview

The Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment (CITE) is the Portuguese Gender Equality national body that deals with gender equality and non-discrimination in the labour market. 
CITE is a tripartite and equilateral body.
CITE’s mission is 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.

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 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;

CITE is a service of public administration, which under the organic of the Ministry of Labour, 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.

Governing laws and regulations

Mandate

Sectors covered

Private, Public

Legal standing before the courts

Defending own legally binding decision before the courts, Intervention in support of a party

Functions

• Advising government on the development, adoption and amendment of law and policy
• Conciliation or mediation
• Making legally binding decisions on claims of discrimination
• Monitoring national law and policy from an equality perspective
• Networking with relevant entities in the country and internationally
• Organising awareness raising and communication activities
• Organising training, advising and capacity-building activities for particular stakeholders on meeting their obligations
• Reporting discriminatory advertising
• Carrying out specialist research on equality and non-discrimination

Fields and grounds

Other mandates of the institution

Standalone dedicated national equality body

Institution

Management and Appointments

Management

Single headed equality body (led by director or ombudsman/commissioner)

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.

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.

Regional or Local offices

This institution does not have regional officies.

Accountability

National Ministry