Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

The Committee notes the Government’s report. It requests it to provide information on the following points.

Exemptions from the prohibition on night work. The Committee had previously noted that section 13(1) of the Protection of Young Persons at Work Law No. 48(I) of 2001 provides that work by young persons is prohibited between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., irrespective of the nature of the work. It had noted that subsection (2) of the same provision permits a young person to work between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. for the purposes and under the conditions determined by regulation. Under the terms of section 2 of the Law, the term young person means any young person of 15 years of age but under 18 years. The Committee had reminded the Government that the Convention permits the competent authority to suspend the prohibition of night work solely for young persons between the ages of 16 and 18 years. It had requested the Government to provide information on the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure that exemptions from the prohibition of night work of young persons can only be authorized for young persons between 16 and 18 years of age. The Committee had also requested the Government to indicate whether regulations permitting night work by young persons between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. have been adopted and, if so, to provide a copy thereof.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that regulations permitting night work by young persons are under preparation. The Government also acknowledges that the Convention allows work at night only for young persons over 16 years of age. The Government adds that the Protection of Young Persons at Work Law is currently under consideration for amendment and it will make sure that this issue is taken into account.

The Committee requests the Government to ensure that any future amendment to the Protection of Young Persons at Work Law will ensure that exemptions from the prohibition of night work of young persons can only be authorized for young persons between 16 and 18 years of age. It also requests the Government to provide a copy of the regulations permitting night work by young persons as soon as they are adopted.