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Minimum Age (Underground Work) Convention, 1965 (No. 123) - Gabon (RATIFICATION: 1968)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in response to its previous direct request.

Article 2, paragraph 1, of the Convention. In its previous comments, the Committee pointed out that section 2, paragraph 5, of the Decree No. 275 of 5 December 1962, which only forbids the employment of young persons of less than 18 years of age in extraction and earthwork in mines and quarries, does not suffice to give full effect to the Convention which forbids young persons under a specified minimum wage from being employed in all underground work in mines. The Government states that the above-mentioned provision goes beyond the Convention since it applies not only to underground mines but also to open mines and as a result it cannot be contrary to the Convention. The Committee observes that in authorising the employment of young persons of less than 18 years of age underground in mines for work other than that of extraction or earthwork, the national legislation ensures them less protection than the Convention, the purpose of which is to prohibit all presence of young persons for reason of employment, underground in mines. The protection which the national legislation now grants to young persons would not be reduced if the legislation prohibited all other work undertaken underground in addition to that of extraction and earthwork in all mines or quarries. The Committee hopes that the next report will contain the measures taken or envisaged in this respect.

Article 4, paragraphs 4(b) and 5. The Committee notes with interest that in the draft revision of the Labour Code, the possibility of including provisions giving effect to these paragraphs will be examined. It hopes that the next report will indicate the progress achieved in this respect. It again requests the Government to supply copies of the employers' records and lists which are kept in practice.