Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report in response to its earlier comments.

Article 12, paragraphs 1 and 2, of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government's indication that section 165 of the Organic Labour Act provides that "during an employment relation, debts contracted by the workers to their employers shall only be repayable, in weekly or monthly instalments, if the amounts of repayment are less than one third of the equivalent of one (1) week's or one (1) month's wages, depending on the case...". The Committee reminds the Government that besides regulating the manner in which repayment of advances on wages shall be made, Article 12, paragraphs 1 and 2, provide that the amount of advances which may be made to a worker in consideration of his taking up employment, shall be regulated by the competent authority. The Committee therefore hopes that the Government will adopt in the near future the necessary measures to regulate the amount of advances on wages, including the advances which may be made to a worker in consideration of taking up employment, in conformity with these provisions of the Convention.

Article 12, paragraph 3. The Committee hopes that the Government, when determining the maximum amount of advances on wages, will also take steps to render any advance in excess of the amount fixed legally irrecoverable.