Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, 1919 (No. 1) - Belgium (Ratification: 1926)

The Committee notes the information and the texts of royal orders supplied by the Government in its recent reports.

It notes in particular that no amendment has been made to the regulations relating to working hours. It therefore reiterates its previous comment concerning the Act of 17 March 1987 respecting the introduction of new work rules in enterprises, which authorizes general exemptions in all sectors from daily and weekly limits of working hours which are not in accordance with Article 5 of the Convention.

The Committee also recalls its previous comment relating to the extension of daily working hours up to twelve hours, which is contrary to Article 2(b), which permits, under certain circumstances, the limit of eight hours set out by the Convention to be exceeded by one hour, and Article 6, which permits recourse to additional hours only in determined circumstances and within precise limits.

The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the exceptions to normal working hours which are authorized remain in conformity with the relevant provisions of the Convention.