Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Night Work (Women) Convention (Revised), 1948 (No. 89) - Kuwait (Ratification: 1961)

Article 3 of the Convention. General prohibition of night work for women. The Committee notes the adoption of Act No. 6 of 2010 concerning the Labour Law in the Private Sector, section 22 of which continues to give effect to the Convention by prohibiting the employment of women between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. While noting that the duration of the compulsory night rest for women has been shortened from 11 to nine hours, the Committee wishes to draw the Government's attention once again to the current trend favouring the review of gender-specific protective legislation with a view to gradually eliminating all provisions contrary to the principle of gender equality and non-discrimination taking due account of national circumstances. This trend reflects also the growing expectation that the same standards of protection should apply to men and women alike in accordance with the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), and also the widely ratified UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The Committee accordingly hopes that the Government will give favourable consideration to the ratification of the Night Work Convention, 1990 (No. 171), which is not devised as a gender-specific instrument but focuses on the protection of all night workers in all branches and occupations. Noting the Government's statement that it is currently examining the possible ratification of Convention No. 171, the Committee requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any decision taken in this regard.