Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Mauritania (Ratification: 2001)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

Repetition

The Committee takes note of the communication from the General Confederation of Workers of Mauritania (CGTM) dated 22 August 2011, and of the Government’s report.

Article 1 and Part V of the Convention. National policy and application of the Convention in practice. In its previous comments, the Committee had noted the indications of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), according to which the Ministry of Labour authorized, without exception, work by 13-year-old children in both the agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. The Committee had noted that, according to the study undertaken by the Government in 2004 in collaboration with UNICEF, entitled “Child labour in Mauritania”, around 90,000 children under 14 years of age worked in the country, signifying an increase of around one third over four years. The study showed that poverty was responsible for child labour.

The Committee notes the allegations of the CGTM that, despite this worrying situation, the Government is not conducting any coherent and concerted policy to redress the situation. There is a department specifically dealing with children’s matters, but none of the programmes developed in this department tackle the problem of child labour. Furthermore, the trade union organizations are not involved in these programmes.

The Committee expresses its deep concern at the large number of young children working out of personal necessity in Mauritania. The Committee urges the Government to take short or medium-term measures to bring about a gradual improvement in this situation, for instance by adopting a national policy aimed at abolishing child labour once and for all, in cooperation with the employers’ and workers’ associations concerned, and to provide information in this respect. The Committee also asks the Government to provide information on the way in which the Convention is applied in practice, by providing, for example, statistical data disaggregated by sex and age group on the nature, extent and trends of child labour and the employment of young persons working below the minimum age specified by the Government at the time of ratification, as well as extracts from the reports of the inspection services.

Article 2(3). Compulsory schooling. The Committee had previously noted the information provided by the Government to the effect that one of the methods to ensure the abolition of child labour was the adoption of Act No. 2001-054 of 19 July 2001, making basic education compulsory for children of both sexes from 6 to 14 years of age, signifying a minimum duration of schooling of six years. It had also noted that the parents were henceforth required, subject to penalties, to send children aged between 6 and 14 years to school.

The Committee notes the allegations of the CGTM that thousands of school drop-outs contribute greatly to the phenomenon of child labour in Mauritania and that children are often forced to leave school because of pressure from their parents.

The Committee notes that, according to the Government, it is sparing no effort to improve the education system. In this respect the Government states that it is planning to organize a general education meeting (états généraux de l’éducation) in the near future. Furthermore, the Government indicates that the capacity of the labour inspections services has been strengthened and that they now have enough human resources to combat child labour effectively. A new labour inspectorate was also set up in 2010, which will help to cut child labour and help children enter economic and social life by providing training and apprenticeship programmes carried out in the formal and informal sectors.

While noting the efforts made by the Government, the Committee notes that, according to 2009 UNICEF statistics, 79 per cent of girls and 74 per cent of boys are in primary school, whereas only 15 per cent of girls and 17 per cent of boys are in secondary school. The Committee expresses once again its concern at the persistence of low school attendance rates, especially at the secondary school level. Considering that compulsory schooling is one of the most effective means of combating child labour, the Committee requests the Government to renew its efforts to improve the working of the education system, particularly by increasing the secondary school attendance rate, especially among girls. In this respect, it asks the Government to provide information on the outcome of the general education meeting, as well as on any improvements in the education system it might bring. It also requests the Government to provide information on the number of children working under the minimum age who have been identified by the labour inspection services and integrated into the school system or in apprenticeships or vocational training, on condition that the minimum age requirements are respected.

Article 3(3). Authorization to employ children in hazardous work as from the age of 16 years. In its previous comments, the Committee had noted that section 1 of Order No. 239 of 17 September 1954 (Order No. 239), as amended by Order No. 10.300 of 2 June 1965 respecting child labour (the Child Labour Order), unequivocally provides that “it is prohibited to employ children of either sex under 18 years of age on work that exceeds their strength, involves risks of danger or which, by its nature or the conditions in which it is carried out, is likely to harm their morals”. The Committee had nevertheless pointed out that this provision had established the general prohibition of employing young persons under 18 years of age on hazardous types of work, whereas other provisions, such as sections 15, 21, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 32 of Order No. 239 and section 1 of Order No. R-030 of 26 May 1992 (R-030), set forth exceptions to this prohibition for young persons between 16 and 18 years of age. The Committee had requested the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that the performance of hazardous types of work by young persons aged between 16 and 18 was only permitted under strict conditions of protection and prior instruction in conformity with the provisions of Article 3(3) of the Convention.

The Committee notes the allegation of the CGTM that children are exploited in dangerous work in large cities, as apprentices, in the bus transport sector, as deliverers of large amounts of goods and as garage workers.

The Committee notes that, according to the Government, labour inspectors and supervisors ensure strict compliance of the provisions of the Orders in question. The Government also states that, if the need exists, measures are taken to guarantee that the performance of hazardous work by young persons between 16 and 18 years of age is only authorized if their health, safety and morals are fully protected and if they have received adequate specific instruction or vocational training in the relevant branch of activity. While taking account of the Government’s information, the Committee notes that the national legislation still does not stipulate that the two conditions provided for under Article 3(3) of the Convention are a prerequisite for allowing young people aged 16 years and over to perform hazardous work, despite the fact that there seems to be a problem in practice in this respect. The Committee therefore requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that Orders Nos 239 and R-030 are amended so as to provide that hazardous types of work by young persons aged 16 to 18 years is only authorized in accordance with the provisions of Article 3(3) of the Convention.

Article 7(3). Determination of light work. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that, under section 154 of the Labour Code regulating the employment of children between 12 and 14 years of age in light work, no child over 12 but under 14 years of age may be employed without the express permission of the Minister of Labour, and only under certain conditions restricting the hours of this employment. The Committee had reminded the Government that Article 7(3) provided that, in addition to the hours and conditions of work, the competent authority should determine the activities in which light employment might be permitted for children between 12 and 14 years of age. The Committee had noted the Government’s indication that it would take the necessary measures to determine the activities in which light work or employment by children might be authorized.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that a copy of the provisions determining the activities in which light employment or work may be permitted for children will be sent to the Office as soon as they have been adopted. Observing that a significant number of children work under the minimum age for admission to employment in Mauritania, the Committee urges the Government to take the necessary measures to bring national legislation into line with the Convention and to regulate the employment of children engaged in light work from the age of 12 years. It expresses the firm hope that light work will be determined by the national legislation in the very near future.

The Committee is raising other points 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.