Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

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

The Committee takes note of the supplementary information provided by the Government in light of the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 338th Session (June 2020). The Committee proceeded with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the supplementary information received from the Government this year, as well as on the basis of the information at its disposal in 2019.

Article 4(1). Determination of hazardous types of work.  Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s reference in its report to Ministerial Order No. 217/2016 on the list of tasks and occupations in which the employment of young persons is allowed. The Government also indicates that young persons between 15 and 18 years of age are not allowed to work outside the list of tasks or occupations provided for in the above-mentioned Ministerial Order. The Committee observes that Ministerial Order No. 217/2016 specifies various types of work that young persons are allowed to perform. The Committee further notes that section 5 of the Ministerial Order provides that young persons are prohibited from engaging in activities other than those than that are listed in the Ministerial Order. Young persons are defined in section 1(21) of the Labour Law as “Every natural person who has reached the age of fifteen but has not reached the age of eighteen”. Moreover, the Committee notes that pursuant to section 75 of the Labour Law, it is prohibited to employ both male and female juveniles, who are not permitted to enter places of work before attaining the age of 15 years. 

The Committee further notes the Government’s information in its supplementary report that the violations of the provisions of the Ministerial Order shall be punishable pursuant to section 118 of the Labour Code of 2003. According to this provision, any person who violates the provisions concerning the employment of children shall be punished with a fine not exceeding 500 Rials (approximately US$1,298) and if such offences are repeated within one year, in addition to a fine, shall be sentenced to imprisonment not exceeding one month. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application in practice of section 118 of the Labour Code indicating the number of cases and specific penalties that were applied for the violations committed under the Ministerial Order No.217/2016.