30. 5. 84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 143/3 
II 
(Preparatory Acts) 
COMMISSION 
Draft Council Recommendation on the promotion of positive action for women 
(COM(84) 234 final 
(Submitted by the Commission to the Council on 26 April 1984) 
(84/C 143/03) 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN 
COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the 
European Economic Community, 
Having regard to the draft recommendation proposed 
by the Commission, 
Having regard to the opinion of the European 
Parliament, 
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and 
Social Committee, 
Whereas various actions have already been 
undertaken at Community level to promote equal 
opportunities for women, in particular the adoption 
by the Council, on the basis of Articles 100 and 235 
of the Treaty establishing the European Economic 
Community, of Directives 75/117/EEC (% 76/207/ 
EEC (2) and 79/7/EEC (3) concerning equal 
treatment for men and women; whereas work is 
currently under way with a view to the adoption of 
other legal instruments; 
Whereas Council Directive 76/207/EEC on the 
implementation of the principle of equal treatment for 
men and women as regards access to employment, 
vocational training and promotion and working 
conditions provides, in Article 2 (4) , that it shall be 
without prejudice to measures to promote equal 
opportunity for men and women, in particular by 
removing existing inequalities which affect women's 
opportunities in the areas referred to in Article 1 (1); 
Whereas existing legal provisions on equal treatment, 
which are designed to afford rights to individuals, are 
inadequate for the elimination of all de facto 
inequalities unless parallel action is taken by governments, social partners and other bodies 
concerned, to counteract the prejudicial effects on 
women in employment which arise from social 
attitudes, behaviour and structures; 
Whereas the Council resolution of 12 July 1982 (") on 
the promotion of equal opportunities for women 
approves the general objectives of the new 
Community action programme on the promotion of 
equal opportunities for women (1982 to 1985), 
namely the stepping up of action to ensure 
observance of the principles of equal treatment and 
the promotion of equal opportunities in practice by 
positive action (action B of the programme), and 
expresses the will to implement appropriate measures 
to achieve these objectives; 
Whereas, in a period of economic crisis, the action 
undertaken at national level and Community level 
should be not only continued but also intensified with 
a view to promoting the achievement of equal oppor­
tunities in practice through the implementation of 
positive actions, more especially in the fields of equal 
pay and equal treatment as regards access to 
employment, vocational training and promotion, and 
working conditions, 
HEREBY RECOMMENDS TO MEMBER STATES: 
A. to adopt a strategy on positive action, designed to 
eliminate de facto inequalities affecting women in 
working life and to promote desegregation in the 
labour market. 
And for that purpose: 
B. 1. To adopt and promote appropriate measures of 
positive action taking account of national 
practices and provisions, in order: 
O OJ No L 45, 19. 2. 1975. 
(2)OJNoL38, 14. 1. 1976. 
(3) OJN0L6, 10. 1. 1979. (4)OJNoC 186,21.7. 1982. 
No C 143/4 Official Journal of the European Communities 30. 5. 84 
(a) to counteract or compensate for the 
prejudicial effects on women in 
employment or seeking employment which 
arise from existing social attitudes, 
behaviour and structures based on a 
perceived division of roles in society 
between men and women; 
(b) to encourage the participation of women in 
all occupations and sectors of working life 
where they are at present under-
represented and at all levels of 
responsibility. 
2. To ensure that such measures are taken in: 
(a) the public sector, 
(b) all agencies concerned with vocational 
guidance, training or placement; 
that such measures are promoted in: 
(c) the private sector; 
(d) organizations representing employers, 
workers and the self-employed, including 
such organizations in the agricultural 
sector; 
and that such measures are made known to: 
(e) women and particularly young women and 
women seeking employment; 
(f) the public at large. 
3. To establish a framework containing appro­
priate legislative, financial or administrative 
provisions designed to promote and facilitate 
the introduction and expansion of such 
measures by public and private organizations. 
That framework, whatever its nature, should be 
set out in documents readily available to the 
public and of which copies should be provided 
to the Commission. 
4. To take steps in order that positive action 
includes as far as possible the following specific 
types of action: 
(a) action to inform and increase the 
awareness of the general public of the need 
to promote equal opportunities for women 
in working life and enhance respect for 
women in their capacity as workers, by 
means including information campaigns in 
the media and in the workplace; (b) action to clarify further the nature, extent 
and causes of de facto inequalities in all 
areas of training and employment, in 
particular by means of statistical studies 
broken down by sex and by continuing 
analysis of, and consultation on, obstacles 
. to equality in specific situations, especially 
as regards individual training schemes and 
undertakings; 
(c) action to broaden the range of vocational 
choice of women seeking training and 
employment, in particular by adapting the 
methods and materials used in information 
and counselling and by designating 
specialized personnel to promote such 
action especially in placement offices; 
(d) action to facilitate the acquisition of appro­
priate vocational skills by women, by 
means including changes in the organi­
zation and timing schemes, and in training 
methods and materials, and by setting up 
specific training or pre-training schemes for 
women; 
(e) action to encourage women candidates and 
increase the recruitment of women to areas 
of training and employment, including 
promotion, where they are under-
represented, in particular by means of 
adaptations in advertising procedures, 
interviewing techniques, job descriptions 
and assessment criteria, by setting up 
appropriate recruitment provisions, for 
example by fixing indicative targets for 
recruitment; 
(f) action to reduce the difficulties faced by 
working parents, whether full or part-time, 
in meeting their occupational and family 
responsibilities, in particular by introducing 
greater flexibility or reductions in 
individual working hours, by improving 
childcare facilities, and by adapting school 
hours and school transport provisions 
where appropriate; 
(g) action to facilitate the participation of 
women in decision-making, particularly as 
regards standing for office in bodies 
representing workers, employers or the 
self-employed. 
30.5.84 Official Journal of the European Communities No C 143/5 
5. To enable existing statutory bodies, responsible 
for equal opportunities, to play a full role in 
promoting such measures and in disseminating 
information about such measures within the 
Member States and within the Community, by 
providing these bodies with appropriate means 
of action. 
6. To draw the attention of employers and trade 
unions to their continuing responsibility, 
whether through individual or joint initiatives, 
to promote positive action in the workplace 
with a view to the better utilization of human 
resources; to this end to use all appropriate 
means to encourage the introduction of 
provisions on positive action in the framework 
of collective agreements and to suggest codes 
of good practice on the implementation of 
positive action programmes in the workplace as 
exemplified in Annex. 
7. To arrange for adequate monitoring of 
measures taken by public bodies at all levels to 
promote or introduce positive action, and to 
encourage regular reporting on measures taken 
by individual undertakings. 8. To ensure, in line with the Council resolution 
on the promotion of equal opportunities for 
women, that the public sector sets an example 
in the field of positive action. 
9. To examine the possibility of stimulating 
positive action in the private sector in the. 
context of public procurement policy. 
And to this end requests the Commission: 
1. To promote and organize, in liaison with the 
Member States, the systematic exchange of 
information and experience in positive action 
within the Community. 
To draw up a report, for submission to the 
Council within three years following the 
adoption of this recommendation, on progress 
achieved in its implementation, on the basis of 
information forwarded to it by Member States. 
ANNEX 
INDICATIVE OUTLINE FOR THE DRAFTING OF A PROGRAMME OF POSITIVE 
ACTION AT THE WORKPLACE 
The following outline is intended as a guide for the planning and implementation of any 
programme of positive action carried out by an undertaking and can be adapted to take account of 
the traditions of individual undertakings and the various forms of worker participation. The close 
involvement of the personnel department of the undertaking is essential at every stage. 
STAGE 1 
Decision of principle, information campaign, allocation of responsibilities 
A decision is taken, preferably at top management level, to develop an equal opportunities policy. 
The undertaking informs its personnel of its intention and organizes external publicity where appro­
priate. 
Responsibility for devising and implementing the positive action programme is given to an individual 
manager or a steering committee, assisted by a bipartite coordination and information group and by 
an expert with experience in equal opportunities matters and who has access to the necessary infor­
mation. 
No C 143/6 Official Journal of the European Communities 30.5.84 
STAGE 2 
Collection and analysis of statistical and other information, publication of results 
The team responsible, referred to in stage 1 above, assembles statistical data on the workforce, on 
the representation of women at all levels in the hierarchy and on formal and informal practices as 
regards recruitment, assessment criteria, selection tests, training, promotion, working conditions, on 
the reduction, reorganization and sharing of working time, on fringe benefits, assessment methods 
and terminations of employment. 
The information gathered is published, together with any conclusions which can be drawn from it. 
STAGE 3 
Establishment of objectives, timetable and organizational arrangements 
The undertaking defines the specific objectives and timetable of its programme of action to improve 
the situation as regards the presence and active participation of women in all sectors and jobs, and 
at all hierarchical levels. Individual measures are then defined in detail and appropriate working 
methods agreed. Steps are taken to ensure that all parties concerned are made aware of what will be 
expected of them. 
STAGE 4 
Implementation and evaluation 
The measures as defined are put into operation. Information about the programme is published on a 
regular basis. In parallel, a monitoring and evaluation group is established within the undertaking to 
assess progress, identify obstacles and report to the team responsible. Provision should be made to 
enable adjustments to be made during the course of the programme if required. 
STAGE 5 
Information and external monitoring 
Information on the way the programme is carried out and the progress achieved is communicated to 
the appropriate national body responsible for equal opportunities, in order to facilitate the 
dissemination of information and experience on positive action within the Member State concerned 
and throughout the Community, and to enable any external monitoring to be organized.