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Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Yemen (RATIFICATION: 2000)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its previous comments.

Repetition

The Committee notes the complexity of the situation prevailing on the ground and the presence of armed groups and armed conflict in the country.

Article 1 of the Convention. National policy designed to ensure the effective abolition of child labour and practical application of the Convention. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the various initiatives, policies and measures adopted by the Government, in cooperation with the ILO, employers, workers and civil society organizations, to combat child labour. However, the Committee noted from an ILO survey that more than 1.3 million children between the ages of 5 and 17 were involved in child labour. It further noted from the Yemen Humanitarian Situation Report of March 2017 that more than 9.6 million children were affected by armed conflict in the country with over 1.6 million children who were internally displaced. Noting with deep concern at the large number of children below the minimum age for admission to employment or work who are involved in child labour, the Committee urged the Government to take immediate and effective measures to improve the situation of children in Yemen and to protect and prevent them from child labour, including through the adoption of the national action plan to combat child labour.

The Committee welcomes the information provided by the Government representative, during the discussion at the 108th Session of the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards in June 2019, concerning the application of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182), by Yemen that it has adopted an Action Plan, 2019–26 to combat child labour. The objectives of this Action Plan include: (i) to prevent child labour and protect children; (ii) to ensure social protection to children who end up in the labour market; (iii) to ensure that the monitoring bodies are better able to intervene in cases of child labour; (iv) to increase vocational training; (v) to undertake a study on child labour; and (vi) to adopt a national policy against child labour. The Committee also notes the Government’s information in its report that, in cooperation with UNICEF, it is implementing a project for the care and rehabilitation of vulnerable children affected by the conflict as well as a national child protection plan, which contain social protection measures for children. It also notes the Government’s information that an estimated 9,941 vulnerable children have benefited from the care and rehabilitation project. Moreover, a National Protection Committee, chaired by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour and comprising representatives from various governmental bodies and relevant international organizations, has been established. The National Protection Committee provides an effective forum for discussion and exchange of views in order to stimulate cooperation in the fields of social protection, including child protection.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the consequences of the conflict have extended to child labour. It also notes the Government’s reference to the UNICEF report, which states that the worsening economic situation and loss of source of income by many families has resulted in around 2 million children dropping out of school to enter the labour market. It is anticipated that the crisis will have the effect of increasing the scale of child labour and an estimated between 1–3 three million children will have no social protection and will be vulnerable to numerous forms of exploitation. In this regard, the Committee notes from the UNICEF Humanitarian Situation Report of Yemen of June 2019 that an estimated 12.3 million children are in need of humanitarian assistance in the country. While acknowledging the difficult situation prevailing in the country, the Committee must express its deep concern at the situation of children in the country wherein a high number of children are involved in child labour and who are vulnerable to such exploitation. While acknowledging the complexity of the situation prevailing on the ground and the presence of armed conflict in the country, the Committee urges the Government to intensify its efforts to improve the situation of children in Yemen and to protect and prevent them from child labour. It requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in this regard, including the measures taken within the framework of the Action Plan 2019–26, and the results achieved. The Committee further requests the Government to continue to provide information on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice, including statistical data on the employment of children and young persons.

Article 6. Minimum age for admission to apprenticeship. In its previous comments, the Committee expressed the firm hope that the draft Labour Code which contains provisions setting a minimum age of 14 years for apprenticeship and the Ministerial Order No. 11 which would be amended to set a minimum age of 14 years for apprenticeship, would be adopted soon.

The Committee notes from the Government’s report that the draft Labour Code and the Ministerial Order No. 11 has not been adopted. The Committee therefore requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the provisions under the draft Labour Code and the Ministerial Order No. 11, which establish a minimum age of 14 years for apprenticeship, will be adopted without delay. It requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in this regard.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.