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

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Oman (Ratification: 2001)

The Committee notes the information supplied in the Government’s report. It also notes the communication of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) dated 7 September 2005 and the reply of the Government thereto dated 20 March 2006. It requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 3 of the Convention. Worst forms of child labour. Clause (d). Hazardous work. In its previous comments, the Committee had expressed concern for the health and safety of children under 18 years of age involved in camel racing and subject to exploitation. It had requested the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that camel jockeys under 18 years of age do not perform their work under circumstances that are detrimental to their health and safety.

The Committee notes the ICFTU’s allegation that it is reported that certain camel owners from the United Arab Emirates (UAE, especially from al-Ain) hide young child camel jockeys in Oman (especially in al-Baraimmi), because the UAE have prohibited the use of jockeys under the age of 16 years. The ICFTU adds that camel owners form part of the local elite and enjoy impunity.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that the Sultanate of Oman does not allow any work or activities conducive to the worst forms of child labour. Furthermore, the Omani Labour Code does not allow for the employment of children under 18 years of age in hazardous work. The Government adds that it verified that there are no camel jockeys being hidden by UAE camel owners in the Al Buraimmi area, or in any other region of the Sultanate of Oman.

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report that camel races are a traditional and popular national sport from ancient times practised by adults and children just like swimming, football and wrestling and that only Omani children ride as camel jockeys. Moreover, they are not hired workers riding camels in return for a wage and accordingly the jockeys are not child labourers. In this regard, the Committee recalls that the prohibition on hazardous work applies to all forms of employment, not only to those under formal contracts of employment.

The Committee also notes the Government’s statement that the “Regulations on holding and organizing camel races in the Sultanate of Oman”, that were issued by the Oman Equestrian and Camel Federation on 7 August 2005, state that no jockey under 18 years of age will be allowed to take part in camel races in the Sultanate of Oman. However, the Committee notes that section 2 of these regulations states that the minimum age of 18 years for taking part in camel races will be reached progressively starting from a minimum age of 14 years, over four years starting from the 2005-06 season. The Committee expresses its concern at the continued use of children under 18 years of age as camel jockeys. It considers that camel jockeying, by its nature and the extremely hazardous conditions in which it is performed, is likely to harm the health and safety of child jockeys.

In this regard, the Committee notes that the Government has taken a number of wide-ranging measures aimed at protecting the health and safety of camel jockeys under 18 years. It notes the Government’s information that strict safety and security measures for the competitors are applied, such as wearing helmets, special belts to prevent falls and wind-proof clothing. Moreover, each competitor is equipped with communication equipment tied to his chest while the racetrack is ringed with sand barriers to stop the camels from bolting off the tracks. The Ministry of Sport, now supervising the sport of camel jockeying, is currently setting out competition rules for races. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that, with regard to camel jockeys’ training, this is not for extended periods, as most of the competitors are camel drivers in their daily lives, being Bedouins whose parents are camel breeders. Training sessions do not exceed one or two weeks before the race and do not last more than five minutes at a time and five rides a day, which means that the total training period does not exceed 40 minutes a day. In this way, the competitors’ schooling is not affected, because such exercises are part of their daily life and most of the races are organized during official holidays and after school hours.

The Committee takes note of the comprehensive information provided by the Government and welcomes the adoption of measures aimed at protecting the health and safety of camel jockeys. Nevertheless, it considers that camel racing is inherently dangerous to the health and safety of children. Therefore, the Committee requests the Government to ensure that the protective measures that are in place and which are aimed at protecting the health and safety of camel jockeys under 18 years of age are strictly enforced, pending the progressive increase in the minimum age to 18 for camel racing. In this regard, it urges the Government to ensure that unannounced inspections are carried out by the labour inspectorate to ensure that children between 14 and 18 years of age do not perform their work under circumstances that are detrimental to their health and safety. It requests the Government to continue providing information on progress made in raising the age to participate in camel jockeying to 18 years. Finally, the Committee hopes that the Government will follow in Qatar’s footsteps in respect of the prohibition and elimination of the use of children under 18 years for camel racing as well as the use of robot jockeys for the purpose of camel racing.

Article 7, paragraph 1. Penalties. The Committee had previously asked the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that persons who exploit children in camel racing are prosecuted and that sufficiently effective and dissuasive penalties are imposed. It notes that Decision No. 30-2002 of 8 August 2005 of the Oman Equestrian and Camel Federation states that any person who violates the “Regulations on holding and organising camel races in the Sultanate of Oman” shall be convicted by the Court. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the applicable penalties under Decision No. 30-2002 of 8 August 2005.

The Committee is also addressing a direct request to the Government concerning other points.